Country Dick Montana "The Devil Lied to Me" 1996

Country Dick Montana, vocalist / drummer for the Beat Farmers, finished this debut solo album shortly before his death.The death of the Beat Farmers' spiritual leader Country Dick Montana barely registered a blip on the rock & roll radar, but many sense a substantial loss. Country Dick and the various groups he associated with (Beat Farmers, Pleasure Barons, Snuggle Bunnies), didn't produce "art" exactly, but when they were in town, you went. (In fact, one Beat Farmers packed more sweaty fun and wild joy than tenfold such shows by Pavement or other indie rock fingerpuppets). Dressed like a cattle rustler just back from thirty days on a particularly dirty trail, Montana took the microphone in one hand and sang "California Kid" in his basso profundo growl that made Nick Cave sound like Jon Anderson, one of those exquisite moments that make the live music experience worth all the smoke, noise, and tedium. In his other hand was an ever-full glass of beer that he shook and sprayed on both the audience and himself. The Devil Lied to Me, recorded shortly before his death of cancer, is a fiery collection of roots rock, country and hilarious snippets from Country Dick's twisted subconscious. I laughed my headphones off during "Trendy Shitbag," stomped my feet numg during his spirited cover of "Green Door" and wiped away a tear (or maybe it was just a booger) during the surprisingly tender "I Wanted You to Know." Everything you ever wanted to know about the man named Country Dick Montana is right here, with the musical support of friends like Mojo Nixon, Dave Alvin, Rosie Flores, and John Doe acting as the kind of hot-sauced eulogy the man would have loved. Vaya con Dios, hombre. - John Chandlertrax:
01 Indigo Rider 02 Rich Man's Town 03 The Home Front, Pt. 1 04 Headed Out for Texas 05 Picture of You 06 Anywhere 07 I Wanted You to Know 08 The Home Front, Pt. 2 09 Listen to Her Heart 10 Hurt by Love 11 Party Dolls and Wine 12 It's Only Cocaine 13 Green Door 14 Trendy Shitbag 15 The Home Front, Pt. 3 16 King of the Hobos 17 Tweak Twuck 18 Bum Rap 19 Suddenly There's A Valley 20 The Only Whore Around
…served by Billy K and Jean-Jacques MURA...