Published on Aug 14, 2003
Upon gazing at the cover, I considered the possibility that
Alabama themselves had gotten back together and unearthed a
follow-up to 1993’s
Cheap Seats. I opened the CD booklet to see an unshaven
horde gazing at me from a moonlit thicket, as if to ask,
“Whathefuck are you doing in our woods anyway, city
boy?”
No, this doesn’t appear to be Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and
friends, and instead of a well-rehearsed “Tennessee River,” they’re
equipped with songs called “Whore Adore,” “Beck and Call” (which
isn’t actually about Beck), and “Amounts That Count” (not a James
Brown cover either).
Alabama Thunderpussy are from Richmond, Virginia, where there is
an apparent shortage of razor blades. Whenever I see a chap with a
beard I almost instantly assume that it smells like what he last
ate. So, for some peculiar reason, while Johnny Throckmorton is
singing, I’m imagining a plate of steaming chili. I probably think
too much. I’ll also suggest that you not do the same when listening
to this. Worrying about whether or not A.T. are in the right
century, much less the correct decade, will keep you from reaping
any of the benefits of
Staring at the Divine.
Instrumentally this is really quite interesting-almost like
Trouble with Kathleen Hannah’s younger brother on vocals.
Throckmorton apparently has a bad taste in his mouth, and his
lyrics frequently do an elongated turn at the end of each phrase,
just like hers.
I’m taking on plenty of points for big, big the guitars, and
Alabama Thuderpussy’s obvious sense of humor too. The last time I
heard this many cool, weird, memorable riffs was on
Time Does Not Heal (1989) by Dark Angel, which was so
stuffed with carpal-tunnel fretwork that I found myself
head-banging one morning and unintentionally put my forehead
through my brother’s teeth. This album is a bit too deliberate for
such displays of affection.
Ted Nugent joins the Black Heart Procession onstage for a medley
of “Release My Heart,” “Motor City Madhouse,” “A Boy With No
Tongue,” and “Cat Scratch Fever.” The only five guys who saw that
show are in this band, and, aside from the missing trumpet and
accordion, this is pretty exact.