Farce the Music

Sep 9, 2013

Sep 8, 2013

Awkward Gary Levox Photo of the Week

Sunday Mornin' Music: T. Graham Brown

Sep 7, 2013

Saturday Night Music: Iron Maiden

From the Archives: Parody Album Covers - Justin Townes Earle, Charlie Rich, Reba, etc.

ORIGINALLY POSTED FEB 19, 2009

Sep 6, 2013

Douche Bryan Photo of the Week

Country Bumper Stickers: Sept. '13

Sep 5, 2013

New Video: North Mississippi Allstars - Meet Me in the City

From their epic and excellent new album, World Boogie is Coming, here's NMAs with "Meet Me in the City."

Get More: Meet Me in the City, North Mississippi Allstars, North Mississippi Allstars Videos

Parody Lyric: Redneck Lazy

Redneck Lazy

(Parody of Tyler Farr's "Redneck Crazy")

Gonna sleep till noon in this La-z Boy

Crack a tall boy open with some sardines

Turn on that Maury show, pick scabs on my elbow

Don't ask me to do a single thing

I'm gonna aim my iPad right toward some hardcore porno

Throw empty Schlitz cans out of the trailer window

Might watch some old Randy Savage fights, chain smoke 3 packs of Marlboro Lights

Ever since I lost my white trash baby, been livin' redneck lazy

Wish she was still here to bring me some chips

Pay the cable and put gas in my ride

Now the bills are piling up but I don't really give a what

If the tax man comes for me, here's what he'll find

I'll be aiming' my iPad right toward some busty porno

Throwin' empty Natty cans out of the trailer window

Watchin' old tapes of Baywatch Nights, chain smokin' 3 packs of Marlboro Lights

Ever since I lost my white trash baby, I'm livin' redneck lazy

Did she think I'd go out and get a job and become a success

You know that I'm more of a free livin' man

But I'm motivated enough to have some plans

I'm gonna aim my iPad right toward some midget porno

Throw empty Pabst cans out of the trailer window

Might watch some old Bill Goldberg fights, chain smoke 3 packs of Marlboro Lights

Ever since I lost my white trash baby, been livin' redneck lazy

She left me redneck lazy

(Yes, there is already a "Redneck Lazy" out there...

What else are you gonna call a parody of "Redneck Crazy?")

Knocked That One Out of the Park, Luke!

Band Mashup: LB + BJM = #awfulsupergroups

Sep 4, 2013

Album Review: Black Joe Lewis - Electric Slave

By Matthew Martin

From the opening heavy, fuzzed-out riff of Electric Slave, we know that this is a new Black Joe Lewis. Not only musically, but in name as well. Black Joe Lewis has opted to drop the Honey Bears from the band name. Not to worry, the horns are still there. The funk is still prevalent. But, this is something a bit heavier, a bit more Stooges than Stax.

One of the first things I noticed about this new outing by Black Joe Lewis is the more pissed off tone of the album versus his last two outings. Not to say it hasn't been on other albums-Scandalous had the terrific "You Been Lyin." It's just that this album takes that emotion and increases the tone to that proverbial 11 level. The subject matter blends perfectly with the minor chords that dominate the album.

"Skulldiggin" starts the album off with a bang and really never lets up. By the time you get to the excellent "Come to My Party," it's clear that Black Joe Lewis wants to blend every style available to him. I dare you to listen to that song and try to sit still. I don't think it's possible.

It's the next half of the album that really picks up and takes the album to another place. The back-to-back songs "Vampire" and "Make Dat Money" are great band workouts. Lewis's voice fits the songs so perfectly. Rough and amplified, it's a vague reminder of The John Spencer Blues Explosion, albeit taking only rough notes from that playbook. The next song, "The Hipster" is a song so perfectly angry and humorous- I can only imagine the Williamsburg crowd listening to the song very uncomfortably.

I don't know that I would say this is Black Joe Lewis's best album. It's definitely not the worst. This is a step in a direction that I think will suit Lewis in the long run. The horns are still there. The funky guitar rhythms are still there. But, there is a new urgency. There is a demeanor that the music has taken on....a more sinister demeanor? I'm not sure if that's the best way to describe it. I'm not sure I know how to put it in words. I think you should listen to it. You will like it. That is something I am quite sure of.

If I had to complain about a couple things on the album, it would be the vocals mix and "Young Girls." While I enjoy the sound most of the time, there are times where it gets a bit difficult to discern the vocals due to being lost amid the guitars, drums, and horns. It's only a minor complaint, though. Also, "Young Girls" starts off fairly weakly. I nearly skipped it. I didn't, and I was glad I didn't. The song grows into it's own, but it's the weakest song on an otherwise incredibly strong album.

This album will grow on me. I like it a lot so far. I see it potentially being on my year-end list with more listens. This is a blues album for the times. No doubt about that. It's been a frustrating year and some angry, fun, funky blues is just what we needed.

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Pick the album up here, here, or here.

John Rich's Songwriting Tips #67

Don't worry about giving the audience what they want. F**k the audience - they don't have a clue what they want. Give them what you know they will buy because radio will play it over and over until they mindlessly open iTunes and click the little 1.29 button. Secret: The customer is actually smart enough that they'd love to hear something that took you more than 15 minutes with 3 co-writers to shit out, but they don't need to know that. They are so numbed out by the daily grind and beaten down by a full schedule and worryin' about Obamacare that they don't even have time to worry about putting quality into their ears. Therefore, you as the songwriter don't have to worry about quality. Hell, if Luke Bryan can be a megastar, that whole "accounting for taste" thing is out the door with the Tuesday morning trash. All you need to concern yourself with, cracka, is writing a song about what goes on away from the office, as long as it is something positive. Like sex, driving around, drinking a beer, watching some football or lighting a big-ass bonfire in close proximity to some trucks. Maybe throw in a beat that slightly resembles that dopey rap song that topped the charts in 1992. Honkies love to be reminded of "Rump Shaker" while they're drinking cheap beer by their chimenea in the backyard or stuck on I-20 West with 3 minutes to get to work. Don't worry about art or expressing yourself. Just give the dumbass radio listener something to nod their head to while they drive to the cubicle and you will rule the charts, son.

*Not actually written by John Rich.