The Dexateens “Hardwire Healing” (Rosa Records) elevates the stakes of this Tuscaloosa, AL combo’s game. While the punk rockin’, honky tonkness still applies, they’ve grown a more overt southern-fried country directness. There’s an Uncle Tupelo Vs Led Zep streak in there. I see mentions of the Stones on the bumf but (to me) that’s more tenuous now. Produced by David Barbe and Patterson Hood (of the Drive By Truckers), “Hardwire” straddles genres and could well introduce an aesthetic to those more familiar with rawk who have no conception of the roll. It’s the familiar picking that’ll snare the former first, they’ll find succour in recognition. This kinda hootch is on the rise and this shows a maturity that the first two didn’t altogether hint at. The sound is way more measured and assured now. Confident even. They also have John Neff on pedal steel. I presume that this is the same guy who made Blue Bob with David Lynch? I’m looking forward to seeing them live to see how it translates to an audience that doesn’t always co-exist comfortably with a Skynyrd/BOC backwash. I’m ancient and can dig it, for me it recalls a better time but could “the kids” ever be down with such a beastie? This is a deep seam to be mined with many influences to be absorbed. It hangs together well as an “album” rather than a bunch of tracks and that in itself is a pretty rare commodity. 
Sunday, October 15, 2006
The Dexateens “Hardwire Healing” (Rosa Records) elevates the stakes of this Tuscaloosa, AL combo’s game. While the punk rockin’, honky tonkness still applies, they’ve grown a more overt southern-fried country directness. There’s an Uncle Tupelo Vs Led Zep streak in there. I see mentions of the Stones on the bumf but (to me) that’s more tenuous now. Produced by David Barbe and Patterson Hood (of the Drive By Truckers), “Hardwire” straddles genres and could well introduce an aesthetic to those more familiar with rawk who have no conception of the roll. It’s the familiar picking that’ll snare the former first, they’ll find succour in recognition. This kinda hootch is on the rise and this shows a maturity that the first two didn’t altogether hint at. The sound is way more measured and assured now. Confident even. They also have John Neff on pedal steel. I presume that this is the same guy who made Blue Bob with David Lynch? I’m looking forward to seeing them live to see how it translates to an audience that doesn’t always co-exist comfortably with a Skynyrd/BOC backwash. I’m ancient and can dig it, for me it recalls a better time but could “the kids” ever be down with such a beastie? This is a deep seam to be mined with many influences to be absorbed. It hangs together well as an “album” rather than a bunch of tracks and that in itself is a pretty rare commodity.
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