In House #1808: New Southern Culture On the Skids Covers Album

Of the many ways that North Carolina's Southern Culture On the Skids have been described over the years, dull has rarely, if ever, been one of them. Over two decades into their existence, the band continues to ply their high energy stew of rockabilly, boogie, country, blues, surf, and punk, et al. on stages far and wide. Their eighth studio release sees them reining things in just a bit for a more nuanced sound as they cover a wide range of artists, T-Rex to Roger Miller to CCR, on the all covers Countrypolitan Favorites. As SCOTS frontman Rick Miller explains it, "when you see a motor sport invented by backwoods moonshine runners and bootleggers broadcast on Sunday afternoon into potentially every living room in America, there ain't no doubt it's a countrypolitan world," the gist being that, in some instances at least, there's a mix of high and low culture currently going on that travels both upwards and downwards. The result here is a mix of the well-known and the obscure given both complete makeovers and loving note-for-note recreations. Highlights include a countrified take on the roots leaning Kinks tune, "Muswell Hillbilly," a boogie-woogie rendition of CCR's "Tobacco Road," and a straight-up version of "Funnel of Love," made famous by Wanda Jackson. Countrypolitan Favorites drops next week on the yep roc label.

Southern Culture On the Skids

In House #1808.
Airdate: 2/15/07
Focus: New release from Southern Culture On the Skids, Countrypolitan Favorites, plus Merle Haggard in Boise this weekend, and new music from Dale Watson, Charlie Louvin, Ry Cooder, and more.

BONUS MP3s-
Southern Culture On the Skids, from Countrypolitan Favorites:

"Life's a Gas" (MP3) (T-Rex cover)

"Engine Engine #9" (MP3) (Roger Miller cover)

PLAYLIST

In House PODCAST #258