Just the other day, I was asking myself, where could I find good rock songs about such diverse topics as semi-trucks, river floods, cute gas station attendants, living on welfare, Nancy Sinatra, Popeye, cheap used cars and being dumb, not to mention covers of Neil Young and Doug Sahm? Well, self found all of these and more on Bottle Rockets new live, double disc, double encore release, Live in Heilbronn Germany.
If you do not have any Bottle Rocket’s in your collection, this is a great starter kit to their music. Usually, I’m not a big fan of having your first CD purchase of a band being a live CD, but this CD is the exception. Why, you might ask, do I not like having a live CD being the first purchase of a band? Well, for one thing, you might only buy the one CD; after all, a live CD is most likely a “greatest hits” type of release. And it would be a shame if you didn’t buy any of their other stuff because then you would miss out on some classics, like “Smokin’ 100’s Alone.” Another reason, and my personal biggest pet peeve in the music biz, is fans turn stupid when they only listen to a live CD. Case in point, I saw REK on East Colfax in Denver (not at the same place as the Scott Miller incident, but down the street from there, read my Citation review for more info on another bar on E. Colfax) and he was sharing the stage with Iris Dement, Todd Snider and Junior Brown. As Junior Brown was wailing on his guit-steel, this nincompoop, yes, I said nincompoop, behind me was yelling “Robert Keen, Robert Keen,” just like in the live version of the Front Porch Song. Here’s one of the top five guitarists to have ever walked the face of the earth, and this guy is missing the show because he’s trying to act like he’s this expert on all things Keen, just because he’s listened to the Live Album. Quote me the lyrics to Then Came the Lo Mien and I’ll be impressed.
Enough of my soapbox, on to the review of this CD, (insert trumpet fanfare here) which starts off with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday. It was Brian Henneman’s birthday when they recorded this CD. These guys are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands. For lack of a better term, I’ll describe their music as workin’ man’s rock, and if you don’t like that, try blue collar rock. Basically it’s music for those of us out here in the middle of the country that doesn’t like Brittney Spears or Run DMC. (Or whatever the current rap group is, I don’t keep up with such things) I heard a movie reviewer say one time that all movies are personal, because you bring your own experiences with you when you watch the movie. This is the same case with music. My favorite on here is “Lonely Cowboy.” Mainly, because I know the lonely cowboy in this song. Some others might not get the song, but it really speaks to me.
His heart’s young, but his memories are old
Born 100 years to late
Another song that I have personal experience with is “When I was Dumb.” Now, those that have read some of my other reviews would expect me to put some funny comments here. But not this time, it hits a little to close to home. Excuse me while I wipe away a tear. I can also relate to “Gas Girl.” This song is about the cute girl that worked at the gas station. When I lived in LaSalle, CO I had a crush on the “Gas Girl” at the convenience store in LaSalle, and she was nothing like the “Blind Date Blues” girl from Kersey. Excuse me while I wipe away a tear.
This band is also helpful in nature. If you listen to their warning on buying used vehicles on “1000 Dollar Car,” you should be able to avoid buying a lemon. Let’s face it there’s no way to make lemonade out of a car, no matter how you squeeze it. Indianapolis also deals with vehicle troubles.
Can’t go west
Can’t go east
I’m stuck in Indianapolis
With a fuel pump that’s deceased.
Basically, if you can’t find a song by the Bottle Rockets that you can relate to, you most likely need some more life experience. My only complaint, “Cartoon Wisdom,” talks about Popeye instead of Wylie Coyote, but I guess there’s already a song about him, so it’s OK to give Popeye some due here. Of course neither of those two can beat Kim Possible, but I haven’t run into any songs about her. What with her red hair and killer ability to fight crime, she’s one hot ‘toon. I’d say she’s the hottest ‘toon out there, hotter than the little mermaid, Jessica Rabbit or the cartoon version of Anne Richards.
So, what have we learned today:
- if you’re standing behind me at a REK concert, please, please, please, don’t holler out “Robert Keen, Robert Keen”
- the cartoon version of Kim Possible is 10 times hotter than the cartoon version of Ann Richards, and the cartoon version of Ann Richards is hot (KOTH Reference)
- and finally, this CD is already one of my all time favorites, it rocks but also has stories from every day life that you can relate to.
I’ll give it 4 and a half out of 5 lemon’s.