The Mekons may or may not be better than what you're listening to

[kearn1tm]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mekons

I've been listening to Fear and Whiskey over the last two weeks and it's the only album that's staved off insanity during mid-terms.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4bkvu3r5an2k

Fear and Whiskey is a 1985 album (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Album) by Mekons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekons), which marked their return from a several-year hiatus. It is credited as being the first alternative country (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_country) album, as it blends the bands previously-established punk rock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_rock) style with a country & western (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_%26_western) sound.

The album's lyrics describe a dark scenario of a community struggling to retain its capacity for joy and companionship through a devastating war fought by outsiders. Rock critic Robert Christgau (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Christgau) has described it as a concept album about life during wartime. [2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_and_Whiskey#cite_note-1) This setting allows the Mekons to express their anarchist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchist) sensibilities, which are quite at odds with the right-wing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing) ideologies that had traditionally dominated modern country music.

[micahistheballs]

I'm listening to Bob Dylan so it's doubtful. Sounds interesting regardless.

[kearn1tm]

I'm listening to Bob Dylan so it's doubtful. Sounds interesting regardless.

Nearly everything loses to Dylan.

[kearn1tm]

Your precious Chuck Ragan heralds this band as one of his biggest influences. More posts/ears!

[llwilliamsll]

I'll check it later I guess.

Edit: And good luck getting people to listen to you recs or reply. Rarely happens. Especially if the music is good or done by talented musicians.

[kearn1tm]

I'll check it later I guess.

Edit: And good luck getting people to listen to you recs or reply. Rarely happens. Especially if the music is good or done by talented musicians.

Oh, I'm well aware. They normally always bomb.

[llwilliamsll]

Oh, I'm well aware. They normally always bomb.
If "where were you" is one of there songs though, I dig that. I've tried countless times to rec some bands on this forum to no success.

[oddwithoutend]

Good title. I generally really enjoy bands that may or may not be better than what I'm listening to.

[x togepi x]

i'm listening to neurosis so probably not. plus i hate "alt. country"


i also don't know how to find this album since all the record stores are closed.

[kearn1tm]

i'm listening to neurosis so probably not. plus i hate "alt. country"


i also don't know how to find this album since all the record stores are closed.

Ha, well, the title was a take on those obnoxious "[band] is better than what you're listening to." I went with the passive route.

[TheWeakest]

Yo i'm actually enjoying this a lot, the genre scared me away at first.
They are pretty...out there and thats what i like.

[Circa1628]

Ha, well, the title was a take on those obnoxious "[band] is better than what you're listening to." I went with the passive route.
it was actually very smart, because it grabbed my interest and made me go in the thread and listen, whereas I most likely would have shown no interest in a thread with the cliche title you are talking about.

[kearn1tm]

Yo i'm actually enjoying this a lot, the genre scared me away at first.
They are pretty...out there and thats what i like.

I imagine when people read the "Alt Country" passage in the initial post, it paints a portrait of their sound before giving it a listen. The Country aspects are very subtle and doesn't monopolize the songs.

The Mekons are still very much among the Post-Punk sound that defined the burgeoning indie scene in the early '80s. Fans of Mission of Burma, Essential Logic and Archers of Loaf (three bands that have been jocked heavily on this board) would more than likely enjoy this.

it was actually very smart, because it grabbed my interest and made me go in the thread and listen, whereas I most likely would have shown no interest in a thread with the cliche title you are talking about.

Mission accomplished.

[CellarGhosts]

I'm currently listening to nothing, so maybe I'll start listening to the Mekons.

Really though, I'll look into them.

[kearn1tm]

I'm currently listening to nothing, so maybe I'll start listening to the Mekons.

What genre is nothing?

Really though, I'll look into them.

Good to hear. Post your thoughts when you do.

[CellarGhosts]

What genre is nothing?



Good to hear. Post your thoughts when you do.
Interesting question. I'll have to think on that.

Will do. They've been recommended to me before but I never really got around to looking into them. But I'll make sure to this time.