the Reverend Horton Heat

Editor's Review:

When The Reverend Horton Heat came blasting out of Texas in the early ‘90s, there was something about the band’s style and sound that was undeniably infectious. It was swingin’ and punk rock — you could dance to it (even swing to it, like with the Stray Cats), but it was tougher than hell, conducive at times to mosh pits. Over the years, The Reverend Jim Heath and his crew — Jimbo Wallace (stand-up bass) and Scotty Churilla (drums) — have been through a lot of shit, having released five full-length albums and one "best of" compilation. They’ve recorded for Sub-Pop and Interscope, and now, on Time Bomb Records, the group is set to release its sixth album, Spend A Night In the Box.

Perhaps it’s a sign of growth and age: The Reverend’s music is polished these days, clean and slick, lacking much of the grit and drive that made so many punk rock fans back in the day. There is certainly more grit on this record than on the last (Space Heater), but if you’re a staunch hipster who feels the Reverend lost it after Liquor In The Front, then steer clear of this one.

If, however, you’re a fan of roots rock and hepped-up juke-joint music mixed with some surf and swing and plenty of wit, then you’ll enjoy the sound of Spend A Night The Box. While much of aural vibe and the lyrical content suffers from staleness, the band is as tight as ever, and though there is heavy-handed production, the thud of Jimbo’s bass, the shuffle of the snare drum and high-hat, and the wale of The Reverend’s guitar still sound honest.

For lack of a better descriptive phrase, this is a Reverend Horton Heat album, plain and simple.

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Record Label Time Bomb Recordings Released March 2000

Tracks 1. Spend A Night In The Box 2. A Big Boogie Woogie 3. Sleeper Coach Driver 4. The Girl In Blue 5. Hand It To Me 6. Sue Jack Daniels 7. I'll Make Love 8. It Hurts Your Daddy Bad 9.The Bedroom Again 10. King 11. Whole Lotta Baby 12. The Millionaire 13. Unlucky In Love 14. The Party In Your Head