| The Last Men on Earth (CD) | 2003 | Small Stone |
Well, after seeing them that night I stumbled to the merch table to procure my copies of 'Fat Black Pussy Cat' and 'No. 6 Dance.' They were fine platters and all, but the Five Horse live attack put 'em to shame as far as energy went. Good thing their approach to the blues was so worthwhile, 'cause it brought me back to them after the Live Effect wore off.
After all this, I was kind of doubtful about their new one. This is their fifth album after all, and anyone might reasonably expect that they'd be past their prime. I'm here to give you an emphatic "NO" on that score. Dashing all expectations, Five Horse Johnson seem to be just hitting their stride, at least as far as I'm concerned. There's more guitar and less harmonica on this one: more Sabbath and less Robert Johnson, as it were. Which is not to say they're leaving their blues roots behind, nossir. What they've done is hone their patented mix of blues with their collective metal background, combine it with some classic rock, and add in some LSD. Or at least some pot. Its heavy as hell and groovy as fuck. And am I alone in hearing some Captain Beefheart in there? Either pre-'Strictly Personal' or post-'Lick My Decals Off, Baby.' In other words, Bluesy Beef.
Dig: Small Stone's jumped feet-first into the fray, and they've emerged with proud tunes and bloody knuckles. Lovers of ZZ Top, Beefheart, Halfman, or Raging Slab rejoice: Five Horse Johnson is among you again.
1. Cry Rain
2. Cherry Red
3. Soul Digger
4. Three At A Time
5. Blood Don't Pay
6. Love 2 Lose
7. Sweetwater
8. B.C. Approved
9. Sawhill
10. Yer Mountain
Approx. 45 minutes
| The Mystery Spot (CD) | 2006 | Small Stone |
Not that their previous drummer, Mike Alonso, was any slouch. His straightforward approach made 2003's 'Last Men on Earth' super-solid, with several tracks that ought to be staples of any Five Horse Johnson setlist. But nothing stays normal for long when members of Clutch are in the house. 'The Mystery Spot's title track starts off as somewhat of an homage to the redoubtable Captain Beefheart at his bluesy best ca. 'Clear Spot'. They didn't call it The Magic Band for nuthin'! Next up is the quirky crowd-pleasing fave 'Ten-Cent Dynamite', with a surprising drum outro. The centerpiece of the album is the amazing power ballad '...Of Ditch Diggers and Drowning Men', surely one of their best tunes ever. The melody is impeccable, the feeling somehow transcendent, and the possibility of transubstantiation, - of converting musical notes into something like spirit - lurks around the corner. Anyway, its great. Of course, it's the blues metal that makes 5HJ 5HJ, and it's everywhere, from the Gallery of Mites-esque 'Feed that Train' to the raunchy psycho blues of 'I Can't Shake It'.
I remember seeing this band a few years ago with Halfway to Gone. Tragically, the house was nearly empty, but my heart was full of love and admiration for these excellent players. In fact, I liked 'em live to the point that when I listened to their discs, even such acknowledged classics as 'No. 6 Dance', they just seemed like sad imitations of the real thing, and I put them away. But now, with Brad Coffin's guitar, played with an admirable ability to distinguish when to cut loose and when to shut up, Steve Smith's rock-solid bass, and Coffin's and Eric Oblander's raunchy vocals back in action on 'The Mystery Spot', they've piqued my interest once again. Quality will out, as they say. Gaster adds variety in a genre where it's difficult indeed for any band to distinguish themselves. Touchstones for cognoscenti would be ZZ Top, Beefheart ca. 1972, the late, great Swedish blues metal group Halfman, the Jersey trainwreck Gallery of Mites, and of course Clutch. Have a drink on me!
1. The Mystery Spot
2. Ten-Cent Dynamite
3. Call Me Down
4. ...Of Ditch Diggers and Drowning Men
5. Gin Clear
6. Rolling Thunder
7. Feed That Train
8. Keep Your Prize
9. Three Hearts
10. The Ballad of Sister Ruth
11. I Can't Shake It
12. Drag You There
Approx. 45 minutes