According to the band website, Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags do not fit neatly into a scene. I'd say that pretty much hits it right on the head.The album begins with a solid rootsy song, "Fall Hard." This song features accordion and some pretty solid honky tonk keyboards, as well as some pedal steel. The instrumental in this song shows some pretty heavy Dickey Betts influence. Scotland Barr has the kind of voice that sounds very familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on who he reminds me of.
This is a band that is pretty big on harmonies, but not just two-part harmonies. Like The Band, Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags employ four-part harmonies in songs like "Don't Get So Heavy" and "Juanita."
The title of the album is from "Dirty Old Waltz," in which Barr sings, "No one drinks like a pilot, no one flies like a drunk. All the great aviators agree." I think that is some tremendous songwriting, but I don't want to think about that saying the next time I fly. Another lyric that caught my attention is in "Something New" when Barr refers to a bar as his Waterloo
The end of "She's Happy" is about as busy as any song I can think of. The song itself is pretty outstanding and it finishes with a fury of piano, guitar, and pedal steel, all played ludicrously uptempo. It's like they decided to follow the direction when Mojo Nixon says, "Everybody solo."
As advertised, this band isn't easy to place into a category. The sound is definitely something from the past. The songs are pretty well based in roots rock, but there is a lot of other stuff going on too. Overall, if you are a fan of layered melodies, four-part harmonies, and roots rock, this is an album you should check out.
.
