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Bourbon Jones & the Smokes first released a 7 inch under the moniker King Size. After a west coast tour in the fall of '98, they raised enough eyebrows with their blues-powered rock to gain attention from some unsuspecting folks, including the lawyer of a Nashville power pop group sharing their name. Bourbon Jones & the Smokes would not be shaken for long. With the release of their debut CD EP, tamaņo del rey, they've put their legal hassles aside and have gotten back to what they're best at: putting out scraping, bassy, backwater swamp rock for you to put next to your Blues Explosion and Supersuckers bits.
tamaņo del rey was recorded in Portland, Oregon at guitarist/blues harpist Patrick Kearns' basement recording facility, Studio 13. This six song EP is not some hi-fi slick L.A. recording with an absence of soul. In contrast, it is a dark, textured record whose production value only accentuates Bourbon Jones & the Smokes' DIY background.
These blues men remain true to their roots and explore a variety of subject matter in their songs. "Wintertime in My Heart" is the shopping list of a forlorn lover. It starts innocent and simple, "Crepe paper banners, $1.99" but as the song progresses, the list becomes more and more degenerate, meandering off into references to cocaine, booze and all manner of self-destructive fare. The song brings to mind some of Robert Johnson's classic lyrics. "Downtown (don't go)" could be a song by one of the Vaughn brothers, if it wasn't dripping with so much jealousy. And check out the "Hey Jude" style breakdown in "Sister's All Right." The album, in fact, would have been the perfect soundtrack for Nicholas Cage's ragged and desolate character in the film Leaving Las Vegas. Break out the booze, dim the lights, spark up a smoke and inhale the fine sounds passionately played on tamaņo del rey.
Bourbon Jones & the Smokes will be touring through 2000 in support of tamaņo del rey. Visit the band on the web at www.bourbonjones-thesmokes.com.
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CD: tamano del rey
Label: Last Chance Records
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| Song about the inability to talk to girls |
CD: "tamano del rey" c1999
Label: Last Chance Records
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