Source: Quantum Critics (http://www.quantumcritics.com/)
Writer: Taylor Maiden
Date: January 13, 2009
Link: http://www.quantumcritics.com/country-music/big-jef-special-big-jef-special-review.html

Big Jef Special - Big Jef Special Review
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Written by Taylor Maiden
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
I loved this collection of barn house stompers and heartfelt tales of life and woe. I ain't never owned no Honda, Toyota or Nissan and I never got everything I deserved from a hard days work. I love PBR and fast cars made of steel, like God intended. and maybe that's got something to do with it but some of these are undeniably amazing tracks, my favorite: track 8, Wishes.
Wishes is hands down one of the best testimonies I have heard in a long time, Jef wails and i can feel it in my shoulders, that tension along your lines and joints that feels so akward and can settle in to fell so damn good... and the boys don't ever let down, Chodorcoff's guitar and the Organ were bitchin, and they just swam on top of what can only be described as a "tell everyone in the car to shut the fuck up" brilliantly performed rhythm section. And it leads into Drinkin' At Lou's, which in itself comes and goes quicker than you'd be able to reckon, but shit of my great nites of drinkin like that aint caused to many clear memories. 420 always reminds of great times that I don't remember too well, not too mention makes me want to get up and slap my boot a few times while hollerin.

There were some numbers on the album such as Alimony Blues, 90 Days and After the Cocaine's Gone which told stories of life I have yet to live, and for that I could not relate as I imagine most would, but hot damn they still give an honest look into the mind, life and world of one country boy… who might as well be every country boy. The stories told, while very direct and personal seemed to be those of popular culture and can speak to the greater conscious of the general public, or at least those that I might be inclined to run across.

All in all, this record, dressed up in a very familiar color scheme (Elvis anyone?) is a showcase of what these boys like to do when they get together. Having gone through a lifetime to collect these lessons and experiencing a horrible tragedy in the band while recording the record, this record shows these boys ain't no run'a'tha mill jammers. They got class, they got skills and most importantly, they got booze and jams all nite till church… LONG LIVE CANNONBALL!!!