See Rock City

“See Rock City” finds The Shiners in fine form, mining material from Southern America and transmuting archetypes rather than stereotypes into songs. Unlike many who would either lampoon or apologize for these images and characters, The Shiners embrace this landscape fully for what it is with no perfume or window-dressing to dilute these visions. When it appears that the band may be headed down the path of parody, they veer back from the brink. The lyrics and music are tough, biting, at times a bit harsh like a shot of bourbon from a bottle that has been sitting in the sun.

Hence, this material likely will not find favor among those who jumped on the bluegrass and alternate country juggernaut that picked up quite a head of steam thanks to “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and Americana radio.

Many of the characters are the down and out sorts cut from vintage Southern literature and with no redeeming grace. Others, such as Mr. Scarecrow, are denizens from childhood’s nightmares cut loose to roam over the country side.

Wes and Jyl Freed helm the band, and their vocals are the heart and soul of this collection. But this is crack band, capable of breaking off great riffs, throwing up a wall of sound that can get your foot tapping or cause you to mash the pedal toward the floorboard as you head down some dirt road.