To The Last Dead Cowboy

Tracklist:

		Geronimo
		Plenty Tough – Union Made
		Harm’s Way
		Bully
		If You Don’t Change Your Mind
		Lake Of Vinegar
		Too Sweet To Die
		Sometimes I Wonder
		To The Last Dead Cowboy
		K.T. Tennessee
		Whisperin‘ In My Ear
		Bad Times (Are Comin‘ Round Again)
		Red Door
		$ Bill The Cowboy

Reviews

The Waco Brothers are an alternative-country side-project led by Jon Langford of indie-rock band the Mekons and also including Steve Goulding of the Mekons, Dan Schlabowske of Wreck and Tom Ray of the Bottle Rockets. Langford especially is no stranger to country – his love for the music led him to steer the Mekons in that direction. The album is punchier than the Mekons albums, but the fusion of indie-rock toughness and country melancholy is the same, as are- biting political lyrics. The album begins with a fine galloping instrumental called “Geronimo” before careening into the militant, working-class anthem, “Plenty Tough – Union Made.” Other highlights include the title song, a symbolic portrait of the country’s virtues perverted through capitalist excess, Langford’s take on the Republican “Revolution,” “Bad Times (Are Comin’ Round Again)” and the rollicking sing-a-long, “$ Bill the Cowboy.”Not everything works – love and heartbreak aren’t the Waco Brothers strong suits, as songs such as “Sometimes I Wonder” and “K.T. Tennessee” prove. But there’s plenty more country kick and lyrical bite here than Music Row churns out in an average month.

– Don Yates

With the release of this album, the line in the sand has been drawn; it is time to round up the ignorant and the ignoble. Hard Country’s fiercest line-up (Jon Langford {Mekons}, Dean Schlabowske {Wreck}, Tom Ray {Bottle Rockets}, Steve Goulding {Mekons, Poi Dog Pondering, Graham Parker}, and Tracy Dear {The World’s Greatest Living Englishman}) has forged 14 songs designed to make any last stand one helluva party. A perfect excuse to raise your glass and curse your boss.

What do a bunch of old, limey punks have to do with country music? Let’s let Herr Langford answer: “It’s so direct and honest, it’s almost painful…All the songs are about sex and death and drinking. If you listen to early George Jones, it’s simple, three-chord stuff where the subject is everyday life…It could be the Buzzcocks.” LP includes an 11×17 poster insert with Langford artwork and lyrics. Features such now famous manifestos as “Plenty Tough, Union Made,” and “Too Sweet To Die.” Pick it up and yell along, because, like us, you’re made as hell and you’re not gonna take it anymore!!!!!

“Any true Mekons fan will recognize Jon Langford’s bloke bluster and speed-twang guitar runs poking out of this outfit…Redneck roots for rootsy old reds.” Eric Weisbard, SPIN

“Mutant country-rock that’s somewhere between a lark and a lost cause. The Wacos are capable of music more sincere and moving than they’ll ever get credit for…A heart-breaker like ‘If You Don’t Change Your Mind’ has the makings of a honky-tonk classic.” Dusty Miller, Option

“The Waco Brothers play ‘hard country,’ which seems to mean country rock without the slightest influence from the Eagles….They do particularly well describing how alcohol can help with crushed aspirations.” Go to the top Charles M Young, Playboy (yep, that’s right, the Wacos graced the same pages as a scantily clad Pamela Lee–chilling, isn’t it??).