Above: Calvin Johnson, Olympia, Washington, as viewed by Lauren Ray.
Rock’n’roll is dead. Gallows Wine [KLP287] is a wake for it’s charred remains. Calvin Johnson traveled to Columbus, Mississippi to record Gallows Wine with the combo Hartle Road (and pals) at their Pompeii studio.
Yeah, Gallows Wine gets primitive: Lurch pulls a night shift on organ, Grandma Moses on the fife and drum. Calvin busk (melodica garage worm profane). Rockabilly spin cycle, guitar scrape and crush. Hand jive.
There's no getting over a bottomless glass of Gallows Wine. Here's a song by song examination of said soon-to-be-classic:
"Hat Trick" - - - Originally written to accompany the love scene in From Russia with Love.
"Pink Cadillac" - - - The inspiration is rockabilly from the Midwest and Mid-South. The execution is classic tear-down threnody.
"Good and Crazy" - - - If you're going on a blind date, listen to this first.
"Blues (We Got 'Em)" - - - OMG best track ever
"Melod for Miss" - - - Don't have a cow.
"Sugar on Sunday" - - - Scrambled power pop with a side order of electric banana. Is it love or just confusion?
"Gallows Wine" - - - Rips psycho psychedelic, poetic license intact.
"Orange Aid" - - - The Pied Piper of Birnam Wood.
"A Walk in the Sun" - - - I almost wet my pants.
"Toby Deano" - - - ANTIFA want to look like them, the Republican Guard want to be like them.
"Here Comes" - - - Can we get the check, please?
"Crazy Legs" - - - A Gene Vincent class act celebrating our collective sock hopulation.
Listen/stream Calvin Johnson, Gallows Wine [KLP287] HERE.
Calvin Johnson, Gallows Wine [KLP287] is available on LP and cassette tape.