The Stumbleweeds
Pickin' & Sinnin'
Rawk Records 002

by Al Kunz

I've been told that "it's all about the music," but can't resist starting this review with a brief discussion on packaging. Why would I do that? Because you're unlikely to find a CD package that communicates what you'll eventually hear better than this one. From the sepia-toned photo on the front to the track listing for "Side One" and "Side Two" on the back, the packaging on this disc practically screams "retro." After a brief study of the cover, you shouldn't be surprised to find that The Stumbleweeds play '50s style honky-tonk and rockabilly.' The retro theme even carries through to the disc, which is designed to resemble a vinyl record.

But after you've put the disc in the changer and thrown the jewel case into a box in the corner, only the music will matter. The Stumbleweeds deliver the goods here with a few well-chosen covers and several originals. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Lynnette Lenker tackles Wanda Jackson's "Wasted," and duets with pedal steel player Red Soares on Fuzzy Owen's "Slowly but Surely." (Red (Chris DeBarge) also plays with Rawk Records labelmates, The Speed Devils, under a different pseudonym.)

Doghouse bassist Hot Carl (AKA Skinny Mike Feudale) is another member of The Speed Devils. Hot Carl wrote two of the originals on Pickin'and Sinnin,' including the traditional style honky-tonker "One More Beer, One More Tear."

If I could see through this haze
I'd remember those days
When we used to laugh
And hold each other tight
As we walked down that aisle
And we wore that certain smile
And you took me
For better at my worst

One more beer
And one more tear
That's what keeps me here
Till they clean the floor
And turn out all the lights
I'll just keep on drinkin'
Cus it keeps me from thinkin'
How and why our love didn't turn out right

Rounding out the five-piece Stumbleweeds are drummer Kimberly Rullo and Tom Umberger pickin' on lead guitar. Umberger contributes four songs to the disc, two of them cynical looks at marriage. "Diggin' for Gold" is the story of a "smart gal" who's not "going to settle for a shotgun shack in a two-bit neighborhood." "The Marriage Song" is a humorous duet from the viewpoint of a couple who did settle.

Happy together, we can never be
Cus when we share a home, it's certain misery
We never should have married, on that we both agree
So happy together, we can never be

Our happy little home was nothing of the kind
We knew pretty quick we'd have to cut them ties that bind
We both got tired of dodgin' flyin' pots and pans
It wasn't long until we ripped those rings right off our hands

A honky-tonk album wouldn't be complete without a cheatin' song. Chris Debarge completes The Stumbleweeds' songwriting trifecta with two. The title track is the tale of a girl swept off her feet by a broke musician, now stuck at home with the kids while he's out "pickin' and sinnin'." DeBarge teamed with Jon Johnson to write "Wine, Women & Sin," another duet by Red Soares (DeBarge) and Lenker.

My troubles always start without me thinkin'
By sayin' I'll have one more for the road
Don't say that you've got a problem drinkin'
Cus you never ever drink too long alone

There ain't no well-shaped leg that I won't never follow
And they're always ones you can't take home to mom
Them ladies that are drawn to rose colors
Will take them rose and leave you all alone

Wine, women, and sin -- it's gonna do me in
The way I keep on livin' -- well there ain't no way to win
If you had just one temptation -- but I would sure deny
But three are too too many -- so son take my advice

John Conquest of 3rd Coast Music said "[The Stumbleweeds] treating everything that's happened in Nashville since about 1958 as irrelevant is a sure way to my heart." That's part of what got my attention as well, but The Stumbleweeds respectful approach, rather than the sometimes tongue-in-cheek parody used by other retro bands, is what won me over. It seems contradictory to say that I find music refreshing when it reprises a style popular before I was born, but that's the case here.

*You can find out more about The Stumbleweeds by visiting their home on the web at http://hometown.aol.com/stumbleweeds The disc can be purchased from the normal internet retailers including www.cdnow.com where you can listen to song samples for additional help with the purchasing decision.


Contact Al Kunz at kunz-at-rockzilla.net

 
Read Rockzilla's Guestbook
Sign Rockzilla's Guestbook