Featured review by:
UG Team, on march 04, 2009
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: If there’s one thing we can all rely on in life, it’s that Nashville Pussy will continue to churn out lots of Southern-fried rock songs about sex, alcohol, and fighting. These key elements to the Atlantic quartet have made them the must-see live band for about the past decade, and the band’s latest CD From Hell To Texas still relays plenty of attitude (just not quite as vivid). Led by husband-and-wife team Blaine Cartwright and Ruyter Suys, Nashville Pussy won’t be everyone’s cup of tea (particularly those with delicate sensibilities), but they still shine when it comes to laying down raw, bluesy riffs.
There’s definitely a shock value to Nashville Pussy that allows them to jump to the forefront of Southern metal bands. From Hell To Texas is chock-full of raunchy themes, politically incorrect lyrics, and a general sense of danger, but it’s all an entertaining ride and for whatever reason never feels over the top. Vocalist Cartwright’s gritty, often atonal delivery might not always be the most pleasing on the ears, but his weathered style also seems like a pretty good fit for songs titled “Lazy Jesus” and “Dead Man Can’t Get Drunk.” The key player is without a doubt guitarist goddess Suys, who is the driving force of the band with her meaty riffs.
The first track “Speed Machine” is among the standouts on the new album, and at times it actually is reminiscent of early L.A. Guns. If you’ve seen Nashville Pussy live or even just on YouTube, you have probably noticed that Suys’ insane onstage persona seems to channel Ted Nugent. While there have always been elements of Nugent in the music, on the newest CD it’s the title track that will draw the most similarities. The best song on From Hell To Texas is easily “Pray For the Devil,” which not only features the most infectious intro riff, it also has a fantastic change in tempo about halfway through that allows a bluesier sound to come through. While not every track feels all that original, the clever lyrics and general don’t-give-a-s**t attitude will hold most listeners’ attention. // 7
Lyrics and Singing: The lyrical department is where Nashville Pussy sets itself apart big-time from the rest of the pack. They’ve been known to sing about plenty of taboo topics, and the new album is no exception. You’ll hear “Lazy Jesus,” which basically disses the religious figure for not keeping himself busy (“You don’t do nothing; except tell everybody they’re wrong…Go over and fix that chair; You don’t do nothing”). While sex is always a favorite topic, drinking and drugs get the spotlight this time around with titles like “Dead Man Can’t Get Drunk,” “I’m So High,” “Drunk Driving Man,” and “Give Me A Hit Before I Go.” Needless to say, if an alcohol-fueled lifestyle offends you, then you’ll be utterly aghast. // 9
Impression: From Hell To Texas doesn’t deliver any huge surprises musically, but there are quite a few tracks that will obviously be crowd pleasers. Suys is still a standout among female guitarists, not to mention as a killer blues player in general. That talent is not always enough to make for an original song, but there is a certain appeal that Nashville Pussy has (lying somewhere between being salaciously dirty and just plain likeable) that extends far being just writing music. // 8
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