Eight album reviews

For those who complain that country music lacks attitude, look no farther than Southern Culture on the Skids. SCOTS, as they are know by fans, are not ashamed by the tacky, low-brow aspects of Southern life. Instead they embrace them shamelessly.

Their newest release, Plastic Seat Sweat, includes an ode to bananda pudding, possums and, of course, plastic seat sweat. The new album has the same sound as other SCOTS albums: theatrical, groovy sounds mixed with traditional country riffs.

Vocals are shared by all three members of the band: Mary Huff, David Hartman, and Rick Miller. The member of the band have almost as much character as their music. They embrace the tacky, garish and outdated side of Southern culture in their dress and style.

Before writing off country music as spineless and unexciting give SCOTS a chance. Before you know it, you'll find yourself sporting skin-tight leopard-skin stretchpants and a whole can of Aqua Net.

The LeRoi Brothers work hard to evoke smoky cantinas and scratchy old records. Although their ernest efforts sometimes border on outright stealing, the Brothers present a few highly danceable tunes on Crown Royale.

The LeRoi Brothers, a three-man band without any shared blood, market themselves as the ultimate Austin, Texas band. Their sound is the genuine article - light on lyrics and heavy on the twang. Most of the songs on Crown Royale are upbeat southern celebrations replete with fiddle and loud guitars.

The LeRoi Brothers provide an excellent soundtrack for the up-and-coming cowboy. Although the boys don't deserve center stage yet, it's the perfect music to backup that first ride on a mechanical bull.

One of the best new country band to emerge on the scene in the last few years is BR5-49. The band, which comes from Nashville where they established a profound reputation playing clubs there before breaking out onto the national scene, is composed of five Southern born and bred country boys.

These country boys know their roots. BR5-49 sound like they could be played on a 40s era country radio station. They are the definition of classic, old-style country, with a 90s edge.

Their only full-length album is a mix of fast-moving, country-swinging tunes, and slower songs in the true country style. BR5-49 is an easy band to like, just give them a listen and soon you'll wish you were driving down the highway on your way to the closest honky-tonk bar.

The flavor of the Old West takes a modern turn in the music of Stranger 1800. The band, made up of members of the band Deadbolt, has redone such old favorites such as Rawhide and Bonanza, as well as some lesser-known songs as well.

The album, When Men Were Men and the Sheep Were Scared, certainly seems to be on the less-than-serious side. The Deadbolt members take up the aliases of Cookie McCoy, Clem Watson and Lee Malbourne. The entire album has a playful feeling, which takes away from the album at times.

The band is able to reproduce the sounds of the Old West well, but not with much individual flair. For some standard Western music pick up a copy of When Men Were Men.

There are quite a few musicians today trying to replicate the old country sound. Other musicians just return to to the classics.

A few musicians eager to take part in the recent country revival joined forces to produce The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers, a tribute album to Rodgers. The recording is the first release on Bob Dylan's Egyptian Records label. Rodgers, nicknamed the Singing Brakeman, penned a few up-tempo blues tunes and a slew of wailing ballads and became the father of country music.

Rodgers was a master of the yodel. Many of the artists featured on The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers are not. Meatloaf and Bono are clearly at the wrong party. Many of the songs do manage to be eminently enjoyable. Especially good is a rendition of "In the Jailhouse Now," by singer-convict Steve Earle, a combination that predates the now-popular singer-songriter, and Allison Krauss's "Any Old Time."

Some of the songs have a remarkably contemporary feel.The artists, from Jerry Garcia to Dwight Yoakam, are clearly indebted to Rodgers for their sound.These masterful reinterpreatations are no substitute for the original.

Alan Jackson is a member of the new breed of Nashville "Hat" singers who make a buck by wearing tight jeans and crooning love songs with punning titles like "I left Something Turned On At Home." Jackson scored a hit a few years back with "Gone Country," a tune that included the lyric, "Some of that stuff don't sound too different than Dylan."

Iris DeMent doesn't sound excatly like Dylan, but her brand of country is reminiscent of some of the early urban folkies. On her latest album The Way I Should, DeMent tackles war, child abuse and poverty without sounding the least bit whiny. DeMent's poetic lyricism and sweet Missouri-accented voice have made her the darling of the new country revival.

None other than country great Merle Haggard has lauded DeMent has the best of her generation. Haggard lends DeMent a helping hand on The Way I Should, collobarting on a few tracks.

DeMent's strengths lie in her honest lyrics, which manage to be intensely personal while still being extremely accessible, and her clear singing voice. DeMent's best music is pure unaffected country - she comfortably uses an old Carter Family-style picking style and sings about religion.

Some country singers are born to be country stars. With a name like Travis Tritt or Trace Adkins, becoming an accountant seems largely out of the question. Country singers by the name of Ernst Eggenberger are still few and far between.

Eggenberger defied all odds to make his name as frontman for Endless Avenue. In the 1980s, Eggenberger led Endless Avenue on an almost endless tour of Europe which heavily influenced Next Stop Austin. Accordions and pretentious accents nearly crowd out the mandolin and dobro that make Endless Avenue a country band.

Although Endless Avenue is prone to indulge itself in mediocre lyrics like "I'm wearing my grandpa's bandanna tonight," that suggest their next stop is the sale bin, Next Stop Austin is distinguished by a few good standard country odes to boots and fishing. Endless Avenue is ultimately a valuable gradual introduction to country music.

If tight jeans and poofy bangs are too much for you, don't lament. It is possible to listen to some country-inspired music safely in MTV-style comfort as well. The Wallflowers, a band fronted by Jakob Dylan, integrates a country flare through their album Bringing Down the Horse, without overdoing it.

If you can ignore the top-40 sound of some of the songs on the album, Bringing Down the Horse offers a mature and well-crafted integration of country roots and folk/rock. At times the album slips into over-polished MTV drivel, but it manages to maintain it integrity on the whole.

For beginning country fans, the Wallflowers are a good start, but don't let their country blend satisfy you. It can get better.