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On the Shelf 110: Rev. Horton Heat
Feb. 8th, 2014 01:21 pmI have spent some time in recent months talking about music 'game changers' like the Pogues and Gogol Bordello. I would have to include Rev. Horton Heat in this category as well.
He took 50s rockabilly and revved up (not unlike the Ramones) and in the days of Sub Pop's heyday and grunge's crest, brought his style of music to modern audiences.
It was genius and his first two albums are modern day indie-rock classics.
Not to call the Rev a "gimmick", but it's a genre that is hard to keep fresh. Heat did a pretty good job making over ten albums, throwing elements of lounge, classic 'cryin' country, and harder edges on different albums, as well as jazz on his Rev organdrum project.
Still, the Rev is probably best loved when he plays it close to his debut, which is why 'Spend a Night in the Box' was such a hit almost a decade into his career.
He is back in 2014 with the appropriately titled 'Rev' on the Victory Records label. It is more of a return to the classic sound than a branching out, which will please many.
It's a pretty solid album of what you would expect, and if there's no surprises (and there's not), then there's going to be plenty of people happier for it.
He took 50s rockabilly and revved up (not unlike the Ramones) and in the days of Sub Pop's heyday and grunge's crest, brought his style of music to modern audiences.
It was genius and his first two albums are modern day indie-rock classics.
Not to call the Rev a "gimmick", but it's a genre that is hard to keep fresh. Heat did a pretty good job making over ten albums, throwing elements of lounge, classic 'cryin' country, and harder edges on different albums, as well as jazz on his Rev organdrum project.
Still, the Rev is probably best loved when he plays it close to his debut, which is why 'Spend a Night in the Box' was such a hit almost a decade into his career.
He is back in 2014 with the appropriately titled 'Rev' on the Victory Records label. It is more of a return to the classic sound than a branching out, which will please many.
It's a pretty solid album of what you would expect, and if there's no surprises (and there's not), then there's going to be plenty of people happier for it.
