|
I'm thinking to myself that really I need to write two reviews for this CD. One for people in the South who were born and raised here, and one for people outside the South who think white Southerners are just a bunch of racist pigs.
If you live in the South, love the South, and have a true and clear understanding of the history of the War For Southern Freedom, just get this album. You're gonna love it, no matter what.
For the rest of you, allow, if you will, a moment of your time. Number one, almost everything you've ever read, seen on TV, or heard on the radio about the South and Southern people is a lie. Please remember that this is occupied territory, and what you hear about us is from the vantage point of the aggressor. No way is anyone in the South ever going to be portrayed in an evenhanded way.
YES, there are racists who live here. There are ALSO racists who live in every state of every nation in the entire world. We do not have a monopoly on it. We did not invent it, and we did not even perfect it. Was there slavery in the South? Yes. There was also slavery in the North. And there is STILL slavery in SOME parts of the world! Were African people abused horrifically in the South? YES. They were similarly and samely abused in the North. In fact, consider please that Lincoln's abolition of slavery applied ONLY to the occupied South. His famous "freeing of the slaves" did not free even one slave in the North. Slavery continued in the North during that time. In 1640, Maryland was the first colony to institutionalize slavery. The last slave to legally be freed was freed in the North. Furthermore, more than 10,000 Jewish men fought for the Confederacy. The Secretary of State was a Jewish man named Judah Benjamin, who went on to become the first Jewish senator of the United States. Surprised? Trust me. The Truth Is Out There. You've just gotta look hard, and read long.
In conclusion, there are some great books out there, such as "The South Was Right" by James and Walter Kennedy. There are also some passionately informative websites like "37th Texas" [http://www.37thtexas.org/]. After reading some of these things, maybe then, then you will begin to understand why some Southerners (of many races, faiths, and colors,) still have the courage to use the symbolism of the Confederate States of America, even when the lies about us have resulted in a veritable witch hunt of PC fascism.
Now that we've got all that out of the way, let's get down to nitty gritty. Southern Whiskey Rebellion have such a great sound. They put me in mind of so many bands I've loved through the years. Everything from Black Sabbath to Lynyrd Skynyrd, but also Suicidal Tendencies, Jody Foster's Army, and the Circle Jerks. Bits and pieces of the best stoner rock sludge sound ever to come up out of the swamps. A bit of Crowbar. Down. COC. That good old Jimmy Bower-esque sludgedrone slide. Southern Whiskey Rebellion incorporate the use of samples seamlessly. Tongues planted firmly in cheek balance out hearts worn defiantly on sleeves. They cite Bongzilla as an influence, and yeah, I'd add that if you love bands like The Atomic Bitchwax, Mudhoney, Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Fireball Ministry, etc., you're gonna love SWR. I love the fact that they infuse the Southern sensibility for harmony and emotive tune, with oldschool punk attitude and the essence of the swampland. When it's distilled onto disc, it's a beautiful thing.
So. If you're immediately offended or discouraged by their name or the prevalence of Southern symbolism, please take this as an opportunity to open your eyes and your ears a little bit. If nothing else, let the music stand on its own and go from there. If you're already a fan of sludge, doom, and dirty punk, I think you're gonna be an instant fan.
March 23, 2006
By Ginnie Moon
10 of 10
|