Tim Blair

FOUGHT DOWN - BUY NOW

Short review of Ken Layne and the Corvids' debut CD, Fought Down: it’s like 1972 all over again, but this time with brains.

Longer, track-by-track review:

1. Ain’t They Pretty

Mournful and sweet; lamentastic. It’s impressive how well Layne sings these slower tunes.

2. Fought Down

If you’re not sunk completely into this after the first two lines, you will be after “Well, I’m so far gone I can’t stand up” opens the chorus. A driving song for those who don’t mind an occasional vehicular homicide conviction.

Matt Welch is the world’s greatest living tambourinist*.

3. I Should Be That Guy

Inspired by the Paris Hilton video. Well, probably not. But it would make an excellent soundtrack, if Paris’s tastes run to rock so pure it actually cleans your Discman as it plays.

4. The Sun Don’t Shine

Nashville meets Nuremburg! Did you know that Corvids’ guitarist Axel Steuerwald had never played anything even remotely country-ish before recording this track? So he lies, anyway. I bet he’s got Ernest Tubbs tab sheets hidden away in a Bavarian bunker somewhere.

Drummer Steve Coulter should never be allowed to have as much fun as he is having here. I was forced to buy whisky, as a coping device.

5. Mama, Take Another Stand

The most Stones-like track here, except more evolved and less -- I don’t know -- pouty. Much is made of the similarity between Layne’s voice and Jagger’s, but it should be remembered that Jagger arrived at that sound, and Ken can’t help it. He’s from New Orleans. There ain’t no cure.

6. Lincoln Town Car

Plenty haunting. Not for the daylight hours. Much like an actual Lincoln Town Car, in fact.

7. Here’s To You

A genial failure’s anthem, performed in the country idiom. How else can you frame lyrics like:

When I get the black-ass feeling in my soul
When I’m holding down the loser’s club
At the bottom of the hole
When I just want to quit and go away
I drink to you, here’s to you

Hmmm. Maybe not that genial.

8. Worried

My elderly neighbour dropped by as I was reviewing this, so let’s get her impressions:

It’s very loud. Could you please turn it down? This is the third night in a row! Some people need their sleep, young man. Don’t make me call the police again.

Only kidding! She didn’t really say those things. She’s been dead for weeks now. This is my favourite 'Vids track, an earlier version of which is reviewed here.

9. Glitter On

I should mention Jeff Solomon’s bass work, except I really don’t know anything about the bass, or any other music machinery. This band does, however. You can kind of tell.

10. Like A Train

No; more like this, all V8 noise and momentum and heat. But “Like A Mustang” didn’t fit.

For the love of God, don’t just take my word for how great this CD is. Take the word of Howard Owens, Charles Hill, Jim Treacher, Glenn Reynolds, Tony Pierce, Kate Sullivan, Stephen Green, Shannon Okey, Paul Palubicki , Henry Copeland, Penalty Kicker, Scott Chaffin, Greg McIlvaine, George Wallace, Steve Smith and Cindy Chaffin. These are people who know things.

You may listen to some Fought Down mp3’s here, and get some t-shirts here, but why not just bypass these distractions and buy the album immediately?

*among tambourinists actually playing on this CD

Posted by Tim Blair at January 27, 2004 02:39 AM