Ducky Dave's Beers : James McMurty, Bill Parker, Asylum Street Spankers

By Dave Lucero

James McMurtry – Saint Mary of the Woods (Sugar Hill)

First off, James McMurtry covers my favorite Dave Alvin Song, Dry River – a song I think he wrote for me: “I played in the orange groves till they bulldozed all the trees/ still I’d stand in those dead stumps and smell the blossoms on the leaves” – and it’s a decent cover, but McMurtry is holding back somehow, not like when Dave sings.

The rest of the cd is pretty good, but it’s full of songs I personally can’t relate to, like living in the Midwest and being bummed when they put in Starbucks or going to a family reunion in Oklahoma and getting it on with your cousins. This guy should move to California; he’d have plenty to sing about.

I’d say it’s elevated bar rock, and I mean that in the best way, like when you walk into a bar, and a band is playing, bluesy, rockin’, and maybe they don’t have a look, but they’re good while you drink a beer. This is solid alt. Country with an emphasis on singer/songwriter ability which usually bugs me, but a few guys can do it well, like Buddy Miller and this guy.

Rating: Two beers

Bill Parker and His Motherscratchers – United We Stand (Wrecked Em)

From the title, I was afraid this might be one of those annoying September 11 tribute cds, but I was pleasantly surprised – this band sounds like a cross between the Ditchdiggers and Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – all raspy vocals, crying dobro, wheezy accordians and plucky banjo. The songs are about being a loser, drinking, and sleeping with other people’s wives. Like Slim Cessna, many of these songs are appeals to Jesus – “Drinking Alone,” “Precious Blood,” “1000 Cigarettes” – while the others sound like twisted pirate shanties – “Blackheart,” “The Barrel,” “Lay Down and Die.” The last song on the cd is a ripping version of Dylan’s “Highway 61,” which should be avoided at all costs.

These guys seem to be from Michigan, which is odd, because I’ve been to Michigan, and there isn’t anything good there. Which leads me to wonder how they got together and recorded this cd. The lead singer, Arlo “Chicken” Pickens does the nasal twangy thing well, but I’m not sure if this guy is serious, or if it’s an affectation, a well-done parody of bands he likes; even if it is, it’s still pretty good.

Rating: Three beers

Asylum Street Spankers – My Favorite Record (Bloodshot)

“My Favorite Record” may well be my favorite Asylum Street Spankers record. What you have here is the typical A.S.S. cd, but this one seems more cohesive, which is a feat considering the band has eleven musicians in it, many of whom rotate in and out of the band.

Most A.S.S. releases have their highs and lows – you like some singers; you skip others. But this is a solid cd with all the stuff you’ve come to expect from the A.S.S. – there are the musical saw songs; there are the typical 20s jazz-type songs with Christina Marrs’ Olive Oyl vocals; there are the random Wammo songs; there are the raspy-voiced Stanley Smith songs, and the alt country/indie parodies from Guy Forsyth – it’s all here. About the only thing missing is the profanity that often occurs in their live shows (and, hence, their live cds), and the heavy drug references. “My Favorite Record” may also turn out to be My Cleanest Record and My Most Radio-Friendly Record, which are not necessarily bad things.

The question is not, will you like the A.S.S. – because everyone with any musical sense likes the A.S.S – it’s “when will you get tired of it?” Sometimes the novelty songs and the precious self-awareness (aren’t we funny? Aren’t we talented?”) can wear on one, but on the whole, this is My Favorite Record.

Rating: Four beers