The Mekons Honky Tonkin' (CD)

Founded in the late 1970s by Jon Langford and Tom Greenhalgh, the Mekons started out as a punk band, inspired by the first wave of British punk rock. Before long, however, they were incorporating synthesizers, reggae, and just plain weirdness into their style. As much of a collective as a band (in keeping with their socialist political tendencies), the early Mekons were a revolving door for a constantly changing cast of characters. In the mid-'80s, they significantly incorporated country and folk influences and released some of their finest work. By the '90s, a membership anchored by the likes of Steve Goulding and Sally Timms kept the Mekons producing at a prolific rate, never abandoning their politically incisive lyricism.

• Category:  Music  »  Rock & Pop  »  Alternative
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: May 18, 2004
• Label: Quarterstick
• UPC: 036172009527
• WAPI (Tower ID): 106657603
• Average Customer Review: There are no customer reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!
• Tower.com Sales Rank: #106510 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #31502 in Rock & Pop (See Top 100 Rock & Pop Bestsellers)
• #2880 in Alternative (See Top 100 Alternative Bestsellers)

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The Mekons: Boston Tar Baby (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Skelly (vocals, guitar); Der Cougar (vocals, accordion); Dick Taylor, Otto (guitar); Avadne Garde (fiddle); Lu Knee (bass); Little Willy (drums).

Additional personnel: Sally Timms (vocals); Brendan Croker (tiple); John Gill (fiddle, bass, melodeon); Bobby Worby (organ).

Engineers include: Tony Bonner, Steve Nunn, Bobby Worby.

Recorded at Greenhouse, Berry St. and Cold Storage, London England; Offbeat and Erics Basement, Leeds, England. Includes liner notes by Sophie Bourbon.

The Mekons: Sally Timms (vocals); Jon Langford, Lu Edmonds, Rico Bell, Tom Greenhalgh, Sarah Corina, Susie Honeyman.

Additional personnel include: Michael Worby (organ).

Recording information: Offbeat, Leeds, England; Eric's Basement Studio, Leeds, England; Greenhouse, London, England; Berry Street Studios, London, England; Cold Storage, London, England.

Named after--but not including--a Hank Williams classic, the Mekons' 1987 HONKY TONKIN' is the prolific group's folkiest and, arguably, best album. The apex of the long-lived band's mid-'80s fascination with folk and country music, the record at times sounds like Woody Guthrie at his most politicized (especially on the old broadside ballad "The Trimdon Grange Explosion" and the impassioned "If They Hang You," a caustic commentary on the '50s Red Scare) fronting the Pogues at their most unabashed (particularly the hilarious, woozy "Sympathy for the Mekons" and "I Can't Find My Money"). The liner notes namecheck related books, movies and artwork for each song, a gambit that in the hands of, say, Sting would be unbearably smug and pretentious. From the Mekons, however, it just seems like some friendly suggestions from a particularly eclectic and smart group of friends. A remarkably thoughtful and entertaining record.

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