Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Thought the first track, Cornbread Moon, was fantastic and that I was in for a brilliant discovery here. I couldn't find out too much about Joe Ely from the internet but tried to read around a bit. "Too rock for country, too country for rock", according to one article I found. But after a couple of listens, I decided it was probably country enough for country and doesn't quite maintain the excitement of that opener. When he does lean more bluesy rock'n'roll, he's great but I certainly didn't think he was 'too rock' for country. I'm keeping Cornbread Moon though.
"I keep my fingernails long so they click when I play the piano." Not sure what to make of this. It's certainly not relevant today.
Yeah nope. 1 star.
Not a genre I enjoy. Some of the songs were fun, despite the subjects.
Argh, country and horns and harmonium and that all in a stompy setting. Whatever that might represent to the genre's lovers, for me that is too hardcore. Likely the same as UK anarchy for country lovers. Execution is flawless, production flawed an flat
At least it was short Will I listen to again: 0%
3.5/10
Usually when I hear this accent in music form it’s an immediate no, but after giving this a chance I was kinda vining with it more than I thought I would. I think after a little while I was like okayyy…. But I can see the pleasure.
Throughout these past 4 years I've discovered that not only do I actually not hate all country music but I legitimately enjoy quite a bit of older country; outlaw, folky type music etc. ... This is not one of those. I can't say it's *bad* because it probably isn't for what it is, but... with a combination of twangy American vocals + slide guitar + semi-predictable chord progressions + plaintive paeans to the midwest plains .... I'm sorry we're just never going to agree on this - I just don't enjoy it. 3/10 2 stars.
exactly what the name suggests!
Good ol’ country– very forward-thinking production too
Just some run of the mill country music.
3.5/5
cool but not my style
I suppose this isn’t a terrible country album, but there’s something about it that feels weirdly and vaguely inauthentic. It really feels like a guy playing country music, rather than a country music singer playing music. That’s not to say it’s objectively bad or unenjoyable to listen to, but it’s not really something I personally enjoyed. It’s almost like this is a turning point when country music started going down a very questionable road, which has led to the absolute nightmare of the current Nashville music scene. Is this proto-pop-country? Unclear but I won’t be listening to it again. 2*
This album was… fine? It’s unremarkable but it’s not bad I guess. We haven’t gotten many country albums in the 200 albums into this list so far and the handful we have gotten have been some kinda confusing choices. This is one of them. “Boxcars” is pretty good. I dunno.
Jericho makes this album.
Not for me. I can see how this is different than some of it's contemporaries, but I just don't see the appeal. 2/5
Not bad. Country rock, could hear a little Zydeco in there too. I can hear how this influenced a lot of people coming up behind him.
I didn't pay much attention to it - distracted today - but it was fine.
Honkey tonk basic
No thank you. It’s even worse than I feared
I'd give this a 3.5, but I'll round up to 4, because I do think it is a very well-done version of what it is trying to do. This from Wikipedia is a great encapsulation of what I feel: The Los Angeles Times wrote that "Ely's pure, unadorned vocals and wry, gently philosophical songs revive the Hank Williams-Lefty Frizzell honky-tonk tradition in country music without showing any traces of nostalgia or self-consciousness. I could see myself putting this on again. Not going to be a huge favorite, but it's easy to listen to and, especially for 1978, pretty surprising, as I would have believed it was released in 82, 88, or maybe even early 90's.
I don't mind a good honky tonk song/album, but felt this was more of a straight country album. I know some may ask what's the difference and I probably couldn't appropriately explain, but there is a big difference to this listener. Anyway, thought Joe was OK. Reminded a little of Alan Jackson at times. A few decent tunes and probably would enjoy more if I had a few beers in me, at a live show. Who am I kidding, beer makes everything better. Cornbread Moon and Honky Tonkin were my favorite tunes. Got a little too country at times, but overall, thought this was an OK album. Not sure why this made the list, but here we are. 2
2 This list has opened my mind up to some country music, but this really didn’t do it for me at all. It had more backing instrumentation to it than I was expecting, resulting in a sound that almost bordered on rock at times, but I think that was actually to the album’s detriment - it largely came off to me as feeling overproduced. I think I like my country music a bit more stripped back, and this is not that. At the very least, it should have some sort of interesting songwriting to grab me, and once again, this does not contain that either. Wtf is a Cornbread Moon? Boxcars at least made me think of Boxcar by Jawbreaker, and the opening reminded me of A Horse with No Name by America, but it was ultimately nowhere near as good as either of those tracks. The religious song sucked, and don’t even get me started on Fingernails… I physically cringed imagining the dude’s long, dirty-ass fingernails hitting the piano keys. This is also coming from a chronic nailbiter, so do with that what you will. Ultimately going with a 2 being that I didn’t find this outright terrible - this is one of those albums that I would say falls more under the “not for me” category than it does the objectionably “bad” category. Still, as someone who has Nashville as a bucket list destination, this is the exact kind of honky tonk I’d like to avoid.
This feels so random for this list, but I’m very happy it was here.
very fun! good bbq music. didnt listen to the whole album but i absolutely will.
It was a good album, though I don't usually like country music, this was ok
I really like this, even though I'm not usually a fan of modern country. It still has the sort of twang and instrumentals that you'd expect out of country, but it doesn't have that fucking annoying Dixon Dallas Blake Shelton voice that every country artist nowadays has a copy paste version of. It's got some serious character to it.
Not typically my jam, but this is full-on good-natured West Texas sound. I know this recording is decades old... but it feels like a breath of fresh air compared to modern Country/Western. This has humor and humility while still focusing on having a good time. This is a low-key gem I didn't expect.
It's wild how different Country use to sound like compared to today's Country. I definitely prefer this over modern country, but not by much....2.5/5.
I like it— good country. Great instrumentation and really fitting lyrics. Meet a fine lady banker and sure I oughta thank her—- the credit she gave me really set me out Like how do I describe how good this is?
There’s a couple tracks I liked, but isn’t really the kind of country music I usually go for. 5/10
Hmmm. Not for me.
This is tough, but not horrible enough to warrant a one
that steel guitarist good though. Ely's voice does not hit
Wow, such great guitar playing. Accompanied by such inane lyrics. What a shame. Does this guy have an instrumental album?
Legit progressive country guy I'd heard the name of (I think) but never listened to. I thought this album was pretty solid. 3.5 in my opinion but not quite worth rounding up. He did run with some good company. The spotify mix after this album had some great work from contemporaries of his and bands in the same vein.
This is alright; it's not my favorite country experience. If this album were to be put on again for me, I wouldn't complain, but I'm not there the entire time. "I'll Be Your Fool" is great!
single star as half star isn't an option. thought I could stomach all music....apparently not. not just bad, but really really bad.
No, no I don't think so. Thanks anyway
Pretty good.
Honkey tonkey?
It's exactly what it says on the tin, so I can't fault it for that. A dull, uninspiring listen nonetheless.
Very fun and pleasant album 7.5/10 Fav: cornbread moon
cornbread moon- 6 because of the wind- 5 boxcars- 5 jericho- 5 tonight I think gonna go downtown- 5 honky tonk masquerade- 5 I'll be your fool- 5 fingernails- 5 west Texas waltz- 5 honky tonkin- 5
Buen country setentero, pero el 78 iba por otros derroteros con discos que marcaron época: The Man Machine de Kraftwerk, debuts de Kate Bush, Pere Ubu, Magazine, , Public Image Ltd., Dire Straits, Police, The Only Ones, Devo, The Cars y Siouxsie and the banshees, (también Chris Rea y Midnight Oil), así como discos esenciales: C´est CHic, Plastic letters y Paralell Lines, Some Girls, This year´s model, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Incantations, Équinoxe, Ambient 1: Music for Airports, All mod cons, Some girls, One Nation Under A Groove, Outlandos d´amour los directos de Cheap Trick, Thin Lizzy, Bob Marley, AC-DC y The last waltz, e incluso Grease.
Kind of sounded like that song in team America world police, that goes “what would you do?”
Pretty chill twangy county. Not my cup of tea, not sure why it's on the list, but an okay listen.
I wish the moon was made of cornbread
Jeesus christ, country music is the most boring genre for me.... Cadillac this, texas that, whiskey this, countryside that. Easiest genre to write lyrics. It tried to get bit more experimental like once in one song but it lasted like 10 seconds and then it was back to the same old sliding guitars. It's basicly like ok-ish dish with only spices and flavor being plain old table salt and nothing more. Not like vomit enducing but just so boring that you just play it in the background and leave it be.
A little too twangy for me, but clearly Ely is an excellent musician. “Boxcar” is exceptional, but that was the clear highlight for me here.
Good classic county. Great when in the right mood but not an everyday album for me.
It was alright, not really my jam tbh.
Pretty nice easy vibes here. Never really heard of Joe but it was pretty good and better than a lot of other country I have heard.
That sure was fun!
There’s something deeply cursed about the sound of this album. Perhaps it’s the accordion or keyboard and the way it clashes with the guitar. The vocals sound like any and all other country music I’ve heard before, but the backing music is an assault on the earholes. On some of the tracks, every element feels like it’s fighting against the rest of the composition and the end result is not only less than the sum of it’s parts, but also less than any individual part; I would genuinely rather listen to just a drum kit than hear Cornbread Moon again.
it was a bit boring tbh and I still haven't go a clue about what a honky tonk is, even though i have heard so many songs about them
I enjoyed it. Initially ironically and then I actually got into it.
This is very much on the Western side of the Country and Western spectrum, with songs of lost loves in Amarillo and lonesome boxcars, as well as two songs about good ol’ honky tonks closing with a great Hank Williams cover. I always used to think that I didn’t like music like this, but it turns out it’s the schmaltzy 70s Nashville style that I’m not a fan of. Albums like this bring in elements of traditional blues, rock and western swing and I would happily listen to this in a dusty bar late at night with a beer in hand. Boxcar-tastic!
I'm not a fan of country -- to say the least -- but this is surprisingly OK to listen to. Still not my cup of tea, but way better than what I expected.
More than any other, this album explains why The Clash hired Joe Ely to open for their London Calling tour. What a show that musta been! This album is about 10 years ahead of its time with its sounds and rhythms and genres. Ely and the other Flatlanders alumni like Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore deserve more recognition. I will complain that this version of their classic Tonight I Think I'm Going To Go Downtown is not nearly as good as when Jimmie Dale Gilmore sings it. Still, glad to see this album on the list.
I enjoyed this album, especially because I'd never heard of him before, never heard of this album, and I'm pretty sure never heard any of the songs either. But I'm also completely baffled why this album is in this collection, and neither the Wikpedia entry nor the "1001 Albums" entry provide any real clue either, and the latter review seems equally mystified why Joe Ely never got more than a cult following. I guess we're listening to him because The Clash had him open for them in the late 70s (poor guy)? Given how few country-related (or even -adjacent) albums we get in this album, it seems a shame to get what appears to be an arbitrary choice instead of substantially more established/respected/acclaimed country artists (no Jerry Jeff Walker, no Townes van Zandt, no Robert Earl Keen, to name just a few). But that's certainly not Ely's fault, and it's an interesting enough album. I think my favorites were "Boxcars" and "Fingernails", in part because they had more of a rock-crossover aspect to them.
Enjoyed the country sound; suspect it doesn't sound nearly as interesting today because now all country music sounds like Ely's--so I'm missing how he was at the vanguard for "country rock"
Quality honky tonk country
The Best country album i heard yet. Interesting timings and progressions. A short at Sweet listen.
Somewhere between “Trying to Do Too Much” and “Line Dancing Lessons on Groupon,” this record is a unique brand of bad. The opener, “Cornbread Moon,” sets us up for failure right away, bouncing between vibes in a way that feels dishonest for a country boy. The production is also as clean as a whistle. For 1978, this sounds as sharp as 1988, but that isn’t a compliment here. What should sound sincere and raw sounds workshopped and dishonest. Thankfully, the opener is the worst offender, although the whole record suffers from the shine of overproduction. “I’ll Be Your Fool” does have some of that vibe shift in its bridge, and “Boxcars” does not need that extra guitar up front, but at least “Boxcars” is a song that can win you over with hooks. To me, that’s the bigger issue here. Honky Tonk Masquerade is pretty much hookless. I’ll support “Boxcars” in a cheesy sort of way, and the title track does have something to it. Hell, I’ll even admit that I can gel with “Fingernails” for wholeheartedly being both silly and Nashville. The rest of this record, though, has very little to latch on to. Maybe if I liked this style of country more I’d be sold more easily, but like, I’ve been known to enjoy a Queer Line Dancing Night or two, so I think I can be broken by good quality honky tonk tunes. Joe Ely just doesn’t have any to offer me. I think “Jericho” and “Honky Tonkin’” are perhaps the two worst offenders, because they try to burn the barn with a wet matchbook. The entire rest of this record is slow dance country, with all the pathetic blandness of every romantic tune Nashville tried to churn out in the ‘80s. I think that might be the most frustrating thing about Honky Tonk Masquerade. For a Texas man, this screams Nashville in its emptiness, so much so that I wasn’t surprised to learn that it actually was recorded outside of Nashville. And that inauthenticity is palpable on every track of this record. I feel like I’m listening to a record any Joe Shmoe could’ve made. It just so happens that this Joe Shmoe was Joe Ely. Sure, he has his moments despite the production’s shine and basicness, but they are few and far between, and what’s between is more frustrating to listen to while you wait for something mediocre to come up.
it’s fine
What seems like actual country, and not stadium country. If his fingernails are anything to go buy, Joe Ely is not writing about tractors and farms while on a private jet or wearing boots that cost 3 grand. I don't like much country, but this was pretty enjoyable. 4/5
Nice sound but a bit twangy for me #musicsky #albumsky #rocksky 3/5
hmprf
Ik ben gene country fan, maar ik heb geprobeerd. Klinkt wat te Amerikaans. 2.1
A honky tonk good time Nice voice. Good guitar. Some cool sounds - liked the zydeco esque parts on some songs. Very much enjoyed this record
3.5
I do like this album, but I've heard some Joe Ely that's closer to my style, like his 1992 Love and Danger Lp, which me and my songwriting friends would play the hell out of around the time I moved to Memphis. But that was more of a rocker folk album, this is more of his Texicana country, which is a fun listen, but not an all timer to me. Though I put a star by "Boxcars". I really liked that one. (7.7) ★★★½
Quite safe, but good. 4 stars
Hadn't heard much Joe Ely before this, but it's really cool. I don't think I've heard too many country songs with both an accordion and a Moog synth on them, "Boxcars" and the title track are probably my favorites, but it's a super solid album. 4 stars.
3.5
Country is often a bit of a cursed genre for me but this honky tonkin’ missive felt especially corny and cheesy. The country crooning is the worst element for me but the production also seemed to be surprisingly synthy and very definitely dated. Tonight I Think I’m Gonna Go Downtown is one of the more serene cuts with its softer vocals and soothing pedal steel but then soon enough I’ll Be Your Fool comes along with its twinges of yodel and then the banks of country cheesiness completely burst with “I Keep Ma Fingernails Long So They Click When They Play The Piana” barroom cheeseblast.
< the Beatles
Interesting stories, sad stories, easy listening. Buy also some jams and sick solos
This was fun!
primera canción jamás se me había ocurrido que se pudiera meter un acordeón a hacer punteos de roquerito, ahora entiendo perfectamente por qué. La segunda de repente me transporta a estar tomándome la quinta budweiser en la barra de un bar de nashville con señales de carretera en la pared y deprimentes luces de tonos rojos y morados, arropado por mi sombrero de cowboy, de ahí lo de honky-tonk, claro. Empieza la tercera y ya estoy hasta la p**la de este disco, aun quedan 7 temas, pero bueno la guitarrita esa que aparece primero en el 1:20 tiene un puntito, VUELVE EL ACORDEÓN, la echaba de menos, ahora hasta me gusta. Lo voy a acabar pero la review está hecha, el disco da lo que promete: las pivas nunca entendieron a los vaqueros, emborráchate, juega al billar, súbete al toro mecánico y reza para que no llegue terminator a pedirte amable pero taxativamente que le des tu ropa, tus botas y tu motocicleta.
well, you can't accuse joe of false advertising with the album title
Solid country album
Country blows, this not as much
If you look closely at the album cover, you can see Joe Ely’s toes. It’s a pretty good classic country album. Cornbread Moon was great.
First song starts really nice with rock and country elements. Very easy to listen to. Second song is softer and more mellow. Sounds like a ballad from old times. Sounds quite nostalgic in a way. Third song is nice and easy to listen to. Fourth song starts a bit pop-like, sounds slightly like a lullaby. Nice ending. Fifth sounds really pleasant and nostalgic. Sixth song sounds more diverse than the previous songs, not bad. Seventh song sounds a bit like the rest of the songs. Eighth song sounds different and better. Ninth has waltz and country elements, a bit annoying. Tenth song starts off really nice and stays consistent, nostalgic. 6 out of 10 rating. 3 out of 5 stars.
It was forgettable
Absolutely nothing wrong with this, just not for me at all.
Not everyone should make music and that’s okay. All jokes aside: Listen to 1. boxcars 2. Because of the wind Truthfully, you can skip the rest.
Still don’t know what a honky is. Nor a tonk.
Didn't expect this to go so hard and kind of funky at times
1.5 Got as far as the first 5 seconds of "I'll be your fool". I should get a medal of honour for that. Can we please have an option to filter country out of the list?
I can't.
Joe No.
Nice country album, though there’s a low ceiling to my enjoyment for this style of music. Lively backing band though. A couple tracks add an extra bit of distortion on the electric guitar, and I would have loved more of that. 2.5
Pretty nice folky old poppy cowboy tunes. I think that the songs are actually quite good and this is a bit of a hidden gem after looking at some of the play counts. I was surprised at some of the production ideas too, it felt a little bit exploratory and a little bit of messy execution? High 2 for me, enough to round up to a 3.
Not sure what makes this essential. I could probably think of a few other things to listen to before I die (ever heard the Littlest Hobo theme song?).
was fun, different to listen to, didn't love it, didn't dislike it. Jericho was the only one I remembered after.
"Honky Tonk Masquerade" wasn't so bad! TBH country just isn't my thing but this was a very tolerable country album.
Very nice
Starts strong, finishes strong, keeps it interesting throughout. There are some surprisingly modern touches in a sound that can too easily disintegrate into pure tropes. For instance, the guitar/synth solo on "Boxcars" or the lyrics on "Fingernails (which I swear Marty Stuart covers) or "West Texas Waltz." Stays true to the Honky Tonk sound, as far as I know it. Accordions, steel guitar, fiddle... it's the Western in "Country and Western." Feels sincere and unapologetic, not trying to be popular, just trying to be what it is.
Meh
Ekki minn tebolli þó hann hafi verið vinur Strummer.
This was absolute shite and I will never listen to it again! Unfortunately I cant give it 0 stars
I like to think of myself as someone who has a reasonably broad taste in music - but - Honky Tonk makes me want to stuff my ears full of 'Cornbread Moon', Pedal steel guitar is like 'Fingernails' down a chalkboard, so 'Tonight I think I'm gonna go downtown' to drown my sorrows because I just can't listen to anymore country music.
Wow! A C&W I actually like!
Country
In terms of country music, this album is quite enjoyable. It's a fun and pleasant listen.
The most interesting thing about this was that I didn’t hear anything here that Garth Brooks didn’t do in the 90s. That realization alone makes me like Ely more than Brooks (who I like not at all). But the music and storytelling here wasn’t half bad!
A large section of country seems to be on display here, from waltz to boogie, with some accordion, string, and organ to keep things interesting. A few typical (read: boring) tunes, but I’ll still round up.
Not bad. I'm not a huge country fan, but this guy's pretty good. 3.5*
Eh, not my kind of country.
Ok
No masquerade. This is just straight up, middle of the road, good old honky tonk music.
Right... Just how many "honky tonk" albums must this generator give me? I've really tried to keep an open mind and in some cases, but I'm really struggle. Buck Owens was a little interesting for breaking with tradition and influencing Johnny Cash. But now it seems that we've gone backwards from that with a return to traditional honky tonk country. Ok, I guess it's well made, production is clear, Ely throws in some unexpected choices like the odd accordian or electric guitar. But sorry, I just don't really see the appeal of this sub-genre. It has made me crave some cornbread though.
I kinda liked this, despite my typical disdain of country. Still hate the word honky tonk
Even in a set of over a thousand albums, there's no excuse for more than one with "honky tonk" in the title, so I went into this with low expectations and even those were dashed.
Ganz in Ordnung.
Honk honk
Nothing revolutionary for its time - in fact, I'd argue that it's a step backwards for 1978 - but it's perfectly passable as an average country-rock album. The production is slightly too clean to be from the 60s, but other than that, Joe Ely may as well be a spitting image of his predecessors. Even the slide guitar feels too perfect, too stereotypical, for me to unironically enjoy it. Instead, this is just kind of bland, empty, soulless stuff that fills an album-length of time adequately. Nothing more. In addition to the numbers of Spotify listens, which indicate that this band isn't popular, there's no way in heck Honky Tonk Masquerade belongs on a list of the 1000-odd most important albums in history. 2/5 Key tracks: Cornbread Moon, Boxcars
Hello friend, I’m not going to hide the fact that I’m closed minded about country music. I don’t really like it and it is probably 100% a cultural thing. I’m from New Jersey and even if the part of the state I live in is considered rural, with lots of farmland and open space, country music might as well come from another planet to me. No one in my family listens to country, none of my friends growing up listened to country…I have no nostalgic affection towards it whatsoever. It just doesn’t resonate with me on any level. Frankly, I think country music is corny as fuck and I’m not really sorry about it. …and maybe that makes me a bad person, the kind of “Yankee” or “Northern Elitist” that Southerners bitch about…I don’t care. I’m in my 40’s and at this point, if country music hasn’t grabbed me, I don’t think it ever will and I’m not going try and force something if I find it off-putting. Now, with that said… There were moments on this record that I appreciated. The instrumentation is a little more technologically diverse and the production more experimental than I would typically expect from a country record. There were even a few songs with a lot of unexpected twists and turns that felt kind of “prog-ish”. So, I didn’t hate this record from a technical standpoint. In fact, I think it was pretty good for what it is. The problem is that musically, this does nothing for me. Country music is steeped in tradition and it’s not a tradition that I’m interested in. It was good enough to listen to all the way through (doesn’t hurt that it’s only 35 minutes long) and there were things I could appreciate about it, but the chances of it ever getting a replay are close to nil.
Fingernails was the only song on this album that I genuinely enjoyed listening to. I started skipping about half way. Giving it a 2 for making me stop skipping temporarily. When I don't know a genre, all I can fall back on is "did I find this interesting/entertaining to listen to", and this album failed pretty hard for me.
I’m stuck about halfway between 2 and 3 stars. I think there are some well written songs in here, but overall it’s a little too honky tonk for my tastes. I did not know or expect that he toured with the Clash, I guess I’ll declare that enough to push this to a 2.5, rounded up to 3 stars. I wouldn’t be mad is someone put this on, but I don’t think I’ll be coming back to it either. Maybe I’ll look into some of his later works, according to the bio he moved more towards a mainstream rock style, those albums might be more my speed.
Pretty decent country album (that's high praise from me, frankly). The band sounds good and it's not a pop country album nor is it completely maudlin slow ballads. A weird production choice - I don't know if it was the guitar or the pedal steel on "Boxcars" but there was an absolutely horrible pedal effect used on that song that sounded horrible. It pops up again on the solo in Honky Tonkin'. Woof, it sounds so freaking bad. It's a decent country album, well executed. And Joe sang on the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" so that's something. No issues with this one. Better than expected frankly.
Thus began the lame-ification of country music.
I’m not into country and had never heard of this. It was pleasant but forgettable.
This album was a lot of fun. I'm not a country boy but I can respect the classics and I can tap my feet to a great beat.
Booooo
I see your toes you little freak. This entire project is teaching me that, 99% of music made isn't bad, isn't good, it just is. Some folks might be struck a certain way by it, most folks won't be. That's alright. You don't have to enjoy everything. 2
Did anyone else expect his voice to sound a lot different based on the album cover? I'll just listen to Johnny Cash if I want country. This wasn't bad to listen to but wasn't special,. Except Fingernails, I'm all for a carefree song but wtf are we doing here. A 3/5 if I ever heard one.
I like country, I really like outlaw country. I was excited because I thought “hey I don’t know this one maybe it’s an uncovered gem!” It wasn’t. Surface album that’s only stand out point was how often I thought he was playing a different song, then came in with lyrics that were in fact not that song. Forgettable and I could have died without hearing it.
I really like Cornbread Moon and Fingernails.
Shite. The purest shite imaginable
Good clean music - just don't love me honky tonk unless I am in Nashville, which I am not.
Meh
Tolles Country Album im Honky Tonky Stil. Saubere Sounds treffen auf ein raue Stimme und stimmige kurzweilige Musik. Topsongs sind „Boxcars“ und „Honky Tonk Masquerade. Gerne mal wieder auf‘s Country.
Context is everything... This album sounds like virtually any bar on Broadway in Nashville, which if the beer is cold and endless, it's a good time. But I'm not spending my Sunday morning listening to this crap.
Honky tonk isn’t my thing, but “Boxcars” has a dark and interesting vibe. Nothing else stood out to me or broke through the trappings of the genre, but Ely has a good voice that fits well.
I feel like there's a story here. Robert Demery, the creator of 1001 Albums..., was reluctantly dragged out to a country bar by a friend where Joe Ely happened to be playing. Not wanting to be there, he drank a bit more whiskey than intended, and caught the eye of a not unattractive Joe Ely fan. Maybe he learned to line dance from said fan. By the end of the night, they were clinging drunkenly, sweatily and sexily to each other and could barely make it back to the fan's one room apartment before they were tearing their clothes off of each other. With strains of Honky Tonkin' throbbing in his ears, Demery had a night of love making the likes of which he had never before experienced and hasn't since. From that day on, he's held out that Joe Ely is a genius musician and one of the only "true" country artists. This story would be about the only reason I can discern why this album would be one of the few country albums on this list, as opposed to the literal thousands of others that would be more worthy.
Only tolerable because of some great guitar solos.
I had a very hard time believing my country ratings are above my overall average because of albums like this. But the I see the generator categorizes some albums as country that I don’t think of as country (CSN, The Eagles). Agree to disagree.
1978 country rock
First song is a banger then it's all downhill from there. The fingernails one is extra weird.
Remarkably not offensive at all
If you liked this kind of stuff, I’d say it would be great. He has a good voice. However, I do not like this kind of stuff.
**Joe Ely's *Honky Tonk Masquerade* (1978)** stands as a landmark album in the Americana and Texas country-rock canon, blending raw storytelling, genre-defying instrumentation, and a road-tested band’s chemistry. Released as Ely’s second solo effort, the album solidified his reputation as a songwriter and performer who could bridge honky-tonk tradition with rock ’n’ roll energy. Below, we dissect its lyrical depth, musical innovation, production choices, thematic cohesion, and enduring influence, while weighing its strengths and limitations. --- ### **Lyrics: Storytelling with Grit and Grace** Ely’s lyrics on *Honky Tonk Masquerade* paint vivid portraits of Texas life, wanderlust, and heartache, often drawing from his own experiences hoboing across the Southwest. The album features five Ely originals, including the title track’s wry commentary on barroom facades (“Everybody’s got a secret, hid behind their painted eyes”) and the rollicking piano-driven “Fingernails,” a ode to manual labor and restlessness[1][3]. However, the record’s lyrical backbone is fortified by contributions from Ely’s Flatlanders bandmates: - **Butch Hancock**’s “She Never Spoke Spanish to Me” and “If You Were a Bluebird” blend poetic melancholy with Southwestern imagery, the latter becoming a live staple for Ely[1][3]. - **Jimmie Dale Gilmore**’s “Dallas” injects existential reflection, its narrator lamenting urban alienation[1][3]. - A cover of Hank Williams’ “Honky Tonkin’” ties the album to country’s roots while updating its swagger for the 1970s[3][8]. The lyrics avoid cliché, balancing wit (“Suckin’ a Big Bottle of Gin”) with vulnerability (“I Had My Hopes Up High”). Ely’s delivery—a “stinging, road-hued voice” (per *Dallas Morning News*)—elevates every line with lived-in authenticity[3][4]. --- ### **Music: A Genre-Blurring Tapestry** The album’s sound is a Texas-sized melting pot: - **Country-rock foundations**: Pedal steel virtuoso **Lloyd Maines** and guitarist **Jesse Taylor** trade fiery licks on “Boxcars” and the Cajun-tinged “Mardi Gras Waltz,” while **Ponty Bone**’s accordion adds Tejano flair to “She Never Spoke Spanish to Me”[1][3][8]. - **Rock energy**: Tracks like “Fingernails” and “Honky Tonk Masquerade” channel Jerry Lee Lewis-esque piano boogie and Stonesy grit, foreshadowing Ely’s later collaborations with The Clash[1][4]. - **Balladry**: “If You Were a Bluebird” and “Dallas” showcase the band’s dynamic range, with sparse arrangements highlighting Ely’s vocal nuance[3][8]. The interplay between Maines’ pedal steel and Taylor’s guitar is particularly electrifying, creating a “muscular” yet melodic backbone that critics liken to the best of 1970s country-rock[3][8]. --- ### **Production: Raw and Road-Tested** Produced by Chip Young in Nashville, the album’s production prioritizes live energy over polish. Ely insisted on recording with his touring band, resulting in tracks like “Honky Tonk Masquerade” and “Boxcars” being cut in single takes[1][3]. This decision captures the group’s telepathic tightness, honed through relentless touring. However, the mix occasionally buries nuances—for example, Bone’s accordion on “She Never Spoke Spanish to Me” feels understated compared to later live renditions[3]. Still, the raw production suits the material, emphasizing the band’s combustible chemistry. --- ### **Themes: Texas, Transience, and Truth** *Honky Tonk Masquerade* orbits three core themes: 1. **The Texas mythos**: From Panhandle landscapes (“I Had My Hopes Up High”) to Dallas’ neon glare, the album is steeped in regional identity[3][4]. 2. **Restlessness vs. roots**: Ely’s narrators oscillate between craving freedom (“Fingernails”) and longing for connection (“If You Were a Bluebird”)[1][8]. 3. **Authenticity**: The title track and “Dallas” dissect societal masks, a theme echoing Ely’s own rejection of Nashville’s “9-to-5” music scene[3][4]. These themes resonate beyond Texas, tapping into universal tensions between belonging and rebellion. --- ### **Influence: Bridging Punk and Americana** Though not a commercial smash, *Honky Tonk Masquerade* became a cult classic, influencing: - **The Americana movement**: Ely’s blend of country, rock, and Tejano prefigured the genre’s 1990s rise. Artists like Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams cite him as a touchstone[3][4]. - **Punk cross-pollination**: The Clash, who toured with Ely in 1979, admired his “rebel country” spirit. This relationship expanded Ely’s audience and cemented his status as a bridge between disparate scenes[1][4]. - **Texas music legacy**: The album’s success bolstered Austin’s reputation as a live music capital, contrasting Nashville’s studio-centric model[3][4]. --- ### **Pros and Cons** **Strengths**: - **Songwriting diversity**: Ely’s originals and Hancock/Gilmore cuts create a rich lyrical tapestry[1][3]. - **Band chemistry**: Maines, Taylor, and Bone deliver career-defining performances[3][8]. - **Genre fusion**: The album’s seamless blend of country, rock, and Tejano remains innovative[3][4]. - **Critical legacy**: Named among *Rolling Stone*’s “50 Essential Albums of the 70s” and included in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die*[3][8]. **Weaknesses**: - **Niche appeal**: The Texas-centric themes and raw production may alienate listeners seeking polished, mainstream country[3]. - **Uneven pacing**: The back half lags slightly compared to the front’s relentless energy[8]. - **Commercial obscurity**: Despite acclaim, the album’s sales were modest, limiting its immediate impact[1][3]. --- ### **Conclusion** *Honky Tonk Masquerade* is a triumph of authenticity and musical ambition. Ely’s sharp songwriting, the band’s electrifying performances, and the album’s thematic depth solidify its status as a cornerstone of Americana. While its regional focus and unvarnished production may narrow its appeal, these elements also grant it timeless resonance. For fans of genre-defying storytelling and roadhouse energy, this remains Joe Ely’s indispensable masterpiece.
Country
Fun country rock
For what it was - I thought this was pretty good. But I’m not totally down with what it was.
West Texas Country Rock Punk. Sounds like a sweet name for a fusion restaurant whose food doesn't hold up to the name. But in this case it's country music and Joe puts it together well. And is it a coincidence that Boxcars, which became one of his signature songs, is a train theme? I don't think so.
Really not up my alley making it hard to rate objectively.
West Texas honky tonk dancers.
Pretty good!
This must be where 90s country gets its influence from. I liked it. 3.5 stars.
I liked this. Country gets a bad name. This is such a party record!
Didn't really listen, didn't get hooked when I did
Okay country album. It wasn't terrible, which already tells a lot. Nothing I would like to listen to again, but much more entertaining than other country records on this list.
No thanks
Too much honky tonk.
That sure was some honky tonk. 2.5
I mean sure, ok. Wait, why is there an accordion? What is going on with this first song? It can't decide what it is. A few tracks in, everything is more or less as random, and I don't know why I'm listening to this, so I'm going to stop trying to work it out and instead tell you about retired professional wrestler, the Honky Tonk Man. The Honky Tonk Man once had the longest Intercontinental Title reign in WWF history, at 454 days. He held this record for over 35 years, when it was finally broken by a far superior performer, Gunther, in 2023. The match when Honky dropped the title to the Ultimate Warrior at Summerslam '88 is objectively funny, and extremely short, go check it out. Honky would dress as an overweight Elvis with a huge face and terrible hair, and twat people with guitars and generally cheat to win or DQ to keep the title, which is obviously good heel work. I had a feeling he would be a massive bell end in real life but I cannot find any solid evidence for this (other than the fact he has maintained that hairstyle to this day, but I guess it is his livelihood) and so I will therefore not state it.
first listen the Moog and accordion really threw me off i like it
This is allowable country for me. Still not a favorite album (or genre), but a solid listen.
Ganz gut
Not my cup of tea
This was very solid, hard country. This album has a pretty specifically Texas sound that sets it apart.
Solid enough, but failed to grip me like a lot of the other country albums that I've loved here. Seems like a cool enough guy, but I think I'm missing some of the cultural relevance to really get it.
Meh. Not my thing.
southern accent, steel guitar, the usual. First 10 seconds promising, but then it changes and is just run of the mill country
Didn’t really do it for me, not enough honky in the tonk
I enjoy the honky tonk mix of country and rock to an extent. A few redeeming qualities, but some of those sad wind songs were too much.
I do enjoy the sound of a steel guitar. This album didn't wear my patience down as much as other country music, but nah, still not a fan of this genre. Might be fine if you're out dancing a two-step (in small doses).
This one is tough to decide. I am generally not a fan of country, but this isn't the usual country: there's some inventive stuff going on here, with a lightness without the usual twanginess. I liked Boxcars and Cornbread Waltz was pretty good. I disliked both the imagery and vocals of Fingernails, but the tune is a bit of an earworm, and it is a fairly original set of lyrics despite being distasteful. I did not like Because of the Wind because I didn't like the instrument, although stepping past that, it was a reasonable representation of wind. Tonight I Think I'm Going Downtown was the most stylisticly like the country I don't like. Hard to decide: I might listen to a couple of these again, but I probably won't seek out the album overall. Strong 2 stars, but just not quite enough for 3.
At least the album title accurately described what was coming...
All a bit shiny and showy for my liking, lacking the emotional heft that I would associate with the best country music. This Joe Ely character tries to be a bit cute, and almost gets away with it.
3.5. Nostan neloseen koska en yleensä countrysta pidä
Just not for me.
Please no more honky tonk
I really don't get why this is on the list. It doesn't seem notable or special in any particular way? That said, I really enjoyed it. I really like steel guitar heavy country music, and this has a fun bounce and groove to it. Just some good old fashioned country. Favorite Song(s): Cornbread Moon, Jericho
One tonk honkied is one too many. Sadly this albums contains many honkied tonks and as such is rendered unlistenable. Sounds like it was recorded in a tunnel.
Pure country
Three or four nice songs but the rest are pretty run-of-the-mill and non-memorable. 4/10
Musics good. Vocals don’t do it for me. Very shallow as well.
Inoffensive country
Pretty good and chilled country album
Honky Tonk has to be the corniest sub genre of country around. I literally cannot distinguish between singers or songs in the genre.
Just country music to me. Fairly inoffensive, but not my style.
Rocking country
Cornbread Moon is a banger
First new artist to me. I liked this particularly the track Boxcars.
Only listened because it was recommended. Worth a listen
I've listened to enough honky tonk on this list to know it ain't for me.
Blind album and artist. This Honky tonking man better Honky tonk outta my brain and make me forget my askewed jive this morning from musical whiplash.
A couple of grooves, but not really my kinda honky tonk.
Ok country.
Classic country. Not really my style, but it's certainly well executed.
3/5
Feel like I'm getting my Flatlanders fix satiated, but not quite fully. Some transcendent moments but some just okay moments too, which are, need I say it, okay. All around great job but some refinement here and there would go a long way--as if safe repetition got in the way of daring exploration.
It all merged into one for me. Not really feeling it.
His voice wasn’t ‘big’ enough for the music.
Perhaps this benefitted from me being somewhat preoccupied as played, but the songwriting is solid, humorous at times, nice steel guitar throughout... other than my disinclination to connect to country music, I couldn't find reason not to award this with a strong star rating. I'm still a lot more rock 'n roll than I am country, but I can dig a West Texas Waltz now and again.
boy, i haven't listened to this in ages. held up great. lyrically, it's rather slight, but it's great fun. i first heard Ely when he was in The Flatlanders (who somehow aren't on this list, but Tonight I'm Gonna Go Downtown is their tune and their version is slightly better, thanks to their musical saw). anyway, glad i got to revisit this.
1970s honky tonk with a Texas focus - not my style at all, but I guess it's okay if you like the genre (a la boot-scootin' boogie)
I didn't know Joe Ely at all but this is great.
This album creates an smooth atmosphere reminiscent of driving a pickup truck in a rural area with the windows down.
Det finns bra country och så finns det dålig country. Det här är det sistnämnda.
Didn't feel like there was a lot to this one
First listen. Nah.
Feels like there's a bit more energy and variation in the instruments than a lot of older country i've seen on the list. Made for a fun listen.
Pleasant background noise
Yee-haw
Skimmed through this album and did not vibe with anything
New to me and some excellent stuff. Will listen to this again and his later stuff.
did not like. too jam bandy
If I had to listen to something country, the country-rock genre is always preferred and there are many really artists I listen to. During the late 80's artists such as Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam brought their brand of country-rock to the mainstream which caught my attention and led me to follow bands like, Blue Rodeo, Beat Farmers and Beat Rodeo to name just a few. This was also when I first heard of Joe Ely whose sound was more similar to the later bands, more rock, but I hadn't heard his earlier record, "Honky Tonk Masquerade", which is more country, with some honky tonk thrown in (if that's a thing?). It feels a little dated and corny, but if you're into this type of music it's pretty good. Not for all tastes and I struggled to get through the whole thing, but it wasn't a long listen and overall it's something that I can see myself listening to again in another 20 years or so...
Honky tonk indeed. This was fun
I think the list took a detour down a country lane. As Fr Jack would say in Fr Ted ‘Nuns, nuns, reverse, reverse’
Not for me. Sophomoric lyrics and totally predictable melodies. Some creativity in the guitar playing but for the most part it's just par for the course honky-tonk/country.
Album 626 of 1001 Joe Ely - Honky Tonk Masquerade (1978) Rating : 3.25 / 5 Country isn't my go-to and country that is unknown to me is usually an even harder pass. This is an exception to that rule. Decent album. He really reaches with his rhymes at times but some decent country/rock. I had saved this on Spotify when I first listened through the playlist so this is the 2nd time it caught my attention.
Well made and fun, but not crazy good by any means. Doesn't feel like a landmark album for anything. Favorites were Boxcars and Fingernails
It’s a perfectly fine country rock album with some synths thrown in. Not something I would be rushing to revisit. Favorites were Boxcars, Jericho, and Fingernails
yeah that was honkey tonk alright really enjoyed i can't even lie
cool album but really unsure how it made the list
This is a fine album. But I have not clue one as to what about it necessitates interaction with my ears prior to my demise. 3
Why is this album on the list?
Yet another record where the vocals bring down every single track. It always seems like he is slightly off pitch. But, the instrumentals are just incredible including some very cool solos.
Jakie jest country każdy widzi. A to nawet, moim zdaniem, nie jest jakieś dobre country. Chłopiec z gitarą i niewiele więcej. 5/10 zaokrąglone w dół, bo czas zacząć się szanować.
Solid country, bordering on some more mainstream sounding orchestration but still feels true to its Texas roots.
Boxcars is a solid song, so is Jericho, though Cornbread Moon is just silly. Though this delivers on the promise of honky tonk for sure. I mean good god they say it enough in the lyrics.
Had me interested 30 seconds in, a whole lot of fun, this is why I’ll never say I’ll hate a genre, 5 years ago I would’ve said I hated country, I hadn’t found stuff like this yet.
Joe Ely's Honky Tonk Masquerade delivers a mix of country rock and Tex-Mex influences that feels authentic and well-crafted, with Ely's distinctive voice and storytelling at the forefront. The musicianship is tight, and tracks like "Fingernails" and "Honky Tonk Masquerade" stand out as highlights. While I appreciate its craftsmanship, the album didn't fully resonate with me, and I wondered about the hype surrounding it. It's a solid record, but perhaps its legend outshines its actual impact—at least for me. It's a good listen but not a personal favorite.
Didn't really like this. It had a lot of elements that I might usually enjoy, but they were not put together in way I enjoyed. 2/5
I think I listened to this while busy and didn't remember it at all. Relistened and liked it quite a bit. Country isn't really my thing but thus has a lot of variety and is fun. 3.5/5
B-
Country no es precisamente lo que está en mi camino
country né pra mim não papo reto
quando eu vi que era country, fiquei triste. aí escutando, a tristeza passou. achei esse bão até. to passando mal, então um countryzim animado desse caiu bem, sei explicar não
Boxcars kinda rules
This album isn’t bad, but it struggles to hold attention, eventually fading into background noise. The overuse of "Honky Tonk" becomes tiresome.
Just not good enough to be on here...
What happened here? Put this on early today, noted “plod plod plod country, v well”, put it back on this afternoon and then spent the next few hours sort of lightly mesmerised by it. Easy listening in a lovely sense of the term, this honey just glugged down by the old radars.
bit basic, innit?
Turns out I don't like honky tonk music. I guess it was short and a couple of the tracks weren't too awful, so I'm going with 2 stars.
Fuck this.
Pretty nice. Definitely fits the title as it feels like a country ball/dance. It teeters on some folk/americana as well not just flat out country. Really beautiful/straightforward. Cornbread moon is "corny" but fun. Because of the wind is a beautiful country ballad.
Great country fun album
Not much to it, nice to listen to
I dislike country Thosbis very pop Not my thing Dont feel anything was superb
Honk that tonk Joe!
Alright Joe- getter done.
Not unpleasant but not something I’d return to as it’s not my regular cup of tea. Didn’t hate it though.
I didn’t realize this was from the 70s at first, I thought it was contemporary with a throwback sound to seem more classic. Great production, great variety with some of the tracks. Added ‘Boxcars’ to the list but liked ‘Cornbread Moon’ as well. 3.5/5
I was expecting a pretty standard country album, which would have been totally fine but what we get here is a very innovative country album especially for 70’s standards. The implementation of the accordion and synth really add a whole other level to this record. Starts with a banger with Cornbread Moon and they let you know the dude on slide means business right away. Joe Ely leads a great band with full confidence in his vocals on this honky tonk jam. Boxcars is the standout for me as it puts the whole outfits strengths on full display, this song held the most depth and I’ll be returning to this many times moving forward. Just a solid country album, this was great. 4 stars
Because of the Wild
Not for me. 1/5
Honky Tonk Masquerade is a kinder term than “Stale, Vacuous Redneck Drag” so I understand picking that as the title.
Yes
Really good once you're past the first couple of songs. For me in any case.
Generic honky tonk; not a super big fan as it seemed uninteresting. At least it was short. 5/10
C+ country. The Texas Waltz was fun, but other than that there is nothing here for me that I’ll be coming back to.
Good country rock album. Ahead of its time, really.
What the shit is going on here lads? That’s like a moog synth pretending to be an accordion or something? Weird. And then it settles down to standard boring country. Not my thing.
Exactly what the title implies. Completely mediocre. 2.5/5
He's got a good twang that I find pleasant and enjoyable. 4.5
This was a tough listen. Country just doesn't jive with me, man. The lyrics are full of platitudes, and the songs all just blend together like a boring country mess. If you're in a bar in Texas somewhere and you're hearing this in the background, I suppose it's authentic, but you'll forget it as soon as you're back home. Best songs: Boxcars Worst songs: I'll Be Your Fool, West Texas Waltz
I learned that having a Renault used to be worthy of a shout-out. Otherwise, songs with all the same tempo, the same trite cliches and some lyrics are downright weird. The few "innovative" elements don't push anything forward, in the end it is just blues music made boring.
I was a bit doubtful going into this album, but it really grew on me as it went along. Most of the tracks have a lively, upbeat vibe that mixes honky tonk country with rock, blues, and a good dose of southwestern Tex-Mex flavor. It even made me wonder if Joe Ely had some influence on a band like Calexico with their modern take on Tex-Mex country rock. This isn’t something I’d listen to regularly, but I enjoyed it and would definitely be interested in checking out more of Joe Ely’s work.
I’ll give this a solid 3/5. Good classic country music before it became commercialized and generic. The concept of a cornbread moon put a smile on my face.
The first song, Cornbread Moon, sounded like an early country-pop song (IDK who the country pop stars are - maybe Brad Paisley??). I liked the remaining songs on the album much more. The pacing was a nice mix of upbeat and slow songs, the lyrics seemed genuine, and there was some really nice guitar throughout. Not bad Joe. Favorite song: Boxcars Least favorite: Cornbread Moon Knew before? No
This was a bit too country for me.
cheesy
solid, meat and potatoes 70's country -- the best vintage for the genre, if you ask me. can the tropes get a bit grating if you're not a fan of the whole country thing? sure, but if you are it's just a very nice, well performed slice of, well, honky tonk. music for the night after a shit day at work. also, they use the moog pretty good on this thing. makes me wonder if more country is out there using wires and knobs.
Honky Tonk Country Rock + a Moog synthesizer... Does that work? Hell yeah it does and this album is a great example as to why and how. It's a passionate Country record that seems to push the genre onto new paths while still holding true to what it is: an American genre that depicts the simple life of an American in different ways. Yes, it does sometimes slip into different things like it does here with the whole Outlaw Country imagery but it still seems rather "simple" (in a good way) than let's say the philosphical aspects of some 90's Death Metal groups. It is simply beautiful and easy to devour while still having enough to offer that a full album doesn't feel shabby or boring. The opening track 'Cornbread Moon' starts things with an energetic, lush and dense Progressive Country song that is topped with a pretty good vocal delivery from Joe. The added accordion is really fun and just adds to that overall "Country vibe". It's a really fun song, that's all I can say. It does maybe try a bit too much with the way it builds tension but still, this is a great song. 'Because of the Wind' gets a bit slower and lets the synth shine a bit more while still having the typical Country instrumentation. It overall just feels more like a typical slow Country song that has some weird added bits. This type of Country music can be really effective but also easily fu**ed up which happens here. It's not bad but the way it plays out doesn't really sound all that great and the songwriting and vocal delivery seems a bit "eh." It's not a good song and I'd even go as far as to say that it's "below average". His best received song 'Boxcars' is neither as up beat as the first nor as slow as the second. But it definitely has a certain darkness to it that is amplified with the mix of some incredibly well put together accordion and synth. The false end that returns into a mix of synth and guitar solo is just a cherry on top. This song is a perfect example of Progressive Outlaw Country and I'm all for it: This is a perfect song. On 'Jericho (Your Walls Must Come Tumbling Down)' Joe Ely returns to a more groovy and faster Country song that shines with the great songwriting he put here. It's just structures so well throughout. Additionally, the lyrics and the chorus are both catchy and feel special on their own. At the end of verses, before he goes into the chorus, he does something that reminds me of another artist but I can't really pin down who... Maybe Donovan? I'm not sure but this song here is surely a great one. 'Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown' closes the first half of the album and returns to a more laid back sound but this time he does it much better. It's still not perfect or anything but it's fun, it's short and I think that it's decent. Nothing that seems disruptive but also not much great stuff. The title track 'Honky Tonk Masquerade' follows with another slow approach but not only his vocals but the entire song just feels much more emotional than on songs before and even though it isn't as great as 'Boxcars', it's still a great Country track that only messes a bit up after the bridge. 'I'll Be Your Fool' is a bit obnoxious especially because it's not as special as most other Country songs in that field of sound. The songwriting is basic, the instrumentation is boring, neither chorus/hook or lyrics have anything of value and the vocals sometimes do anything but sound good. It's a bad song, sadly. Luckily, 'Fingernails' returns with some more interesting songwriting. Yes, it's silly but also really fun. The piano works so well with the Rock & Roll style and it's just really, really playful all the way through. This feels a lot like Jerry Lee Lewis but more Country of course. It's a great song. On 'West Texas Waltz' he turns a bit to Tex Mex together with the Outlaw Country style and while it isn't bad, I am really uninterested by it. There are some moments I like but also some I really don't so it equals out to average, maybe slightly below. It's just way too long. The closing track 'Honky Tonkin'' starts off by sounding like it's about to turn into a Stones track but it of course doesn't turn Blues Rock, no it turns Honky Tonk (who would've guessed.) It's okay. There are some fun parts but even the chorus is pretty annoying and obnoxious. It's also mixed not all that good. It just turns out pretty below average with a tendency to bad but not quite. favourites: Boxcars, Honky Tonk Masquerade, Jericho (Your Walls Must Come Tumbling Down) least favourites: I'll Be Your Fool, Honky Tonkin', Because of the Wind, West Texas Waltz Rating: strong 6 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes
Als ze 1000 albums in de generator flikkerde, zonder over de top te gaan voor die duizend-en-een, kon Joe Ely met z'n gehonky tonk het schudden vrees ik. Tuurlijk, hij assembleert een muziekstuk met meer dan alleen de welbekende country gitaar, waardoor hij je met zijn albumhoes toch een beetje op het verkeerde been zet. Misschien is het daarom ook wel een inclusion in de lijst, door z'n ietwat onorthodoxe benadering van een traditioneel genre. Maar de kwaliteit laat te wensen over, en ik - als niet eens doorgewinterd - country luisteraar kan toch zo 10 a 20 namen opnoemen met betere gitaarskills, een intrigerendere vertelkunst, en überhaupt een goed gevoel voor melodie. Er blijft niets hangen, en juist dat catchy en cheesy (in de goede zin van het woord) aspect is wat country vaak zo aandoenlijk maakt. NEXT PLEASE 4,5/10 Highlights: Because Of The Wind (Deed me 1 seconde denken aan Gram Parsons)
Een lijst van 1001 albums is een hele opgave. Maar om deze dan maar te gaan vullen met honky tonk albums over cornbread en railroads vind ik een beetje veel van het goeie. 4/10 Highlights
Day286 - maybe in 1978 this was something cool and different,not that it’s bad but it doesn’t seem important now.
Not my kind
Country for me is either love it or hate it, and this is unfortunately a hate. This is the country music I grew up not liking, very radio country. Worst album I've gotten so far, and only a half hour I checked how much was left several times.
Not my normal listening fair, but not terrible.
Meh american rock country
Приятно, но нейтрально
Enjoyable in the way of "haha listen to how country this guy is".
Honky Tonk 2/5
It's good. Just not for me.
Would like this if doing a road trip across America, stopping at a roadside bar, dusty and rolling tumble weed, when ordering ice cool beer someone slips a dime into the juke box and this music comes on. But none of that is true and in my world C&W has no relevance at all. 1/5 5/10/24
Won't listen again. Competent but uninteresting 2.2
If you’re gonna country, you might as well full country.
Not Bad. Just C&W
Hard to review because I used it as background music. But not really my style
Makes me want to eat grits and spit tobacco. But as a tofu eating member of the European wokerati, this is not a good thing.
Found this one fun.
Didn't have time to do a proper listen to this album, but I appreciate what I heard and would listen again. Needs more: slide guitar. Needs less: accordion, and the lyrics "I keep my fingernails long so they click when I'm playing the piano?? "
Pretty good country sound. Reminded me of George strait
Is this where the trope of man-standing-with-guitar-with-one-leg-on-a-wall began? Either way, less offensive than most country albums, and even a little fun.
There are two genres of popular music that I really don't care for, probably because of cultural background. The first of this is hip hop, and the second is country and western music. My heart sank a little when this album came up, particularly since I aim to listen to each album two or three times. Perhaps mercifully, this one is only 33 minutes long. Aside from the tooth-grating C&W flourishes such as yodels and pedal steel, the album is at its best when Joe Ely is rocking out. Unfortunately those moments are all too fleeting. I can't really rate this particularly highly, though I note from Wikipedia that Ely was quite broadminded when it comes to crossing genre boundaries. I think this and subsequent albums may have been more influential than I know - for example on The Clash's growing interest in Americana.
Great album - easy to listen to, strong lyrics (especially Boxcars). I feel like this is what I wish Bob Dylan sounded like.
Kantrilevyksi yllättävän kuunneltava.
Decent for that type of music.