Rough Edges - Guana Batz (The)

Advantages: This best of comes with two cd's! One disc is live. You get more for your money.
Disadvantages: There arent any!

...This album is a must for anyone diving into the big bad world of psychobilly; this album includes an excellent choice of songs by the Guana Batz and includes a live disc which has a few covers by the Stray Cats and Cliff Richard! I urge you to buy this album, as all the songs are solid; this is a real psycho band to get yer teeth into! You get your fast, raging songs with (excellent double bass playing may I add) to your slower, more acoustic rock and roll songs, either way you can't lose, this album hasn't got a bad track and becomes increasingly enjoyable the more you listen. This album cannot fail you, whether you're listening to the live or studio tracks! The live tracks are excellent, fabulous recording, almost better than the studio tracks. There isn't a bad word to say about this album.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Classic early rockin' album... the roots of Psychobilly!
Disadvantages: Too rockabilly for hard-core Psychobilly fans.

...Though clearly a Rockabilly outfit, The Ricochets had a harder-edge and lyrically their sound was a lot tougher than many of their peers at the time. They brought the excitement and energy of Punk to this album while still maintaining their rockin' roots. The Ricochets roughhouse style shakes this album and the darker lyrical style, which would become a Psychobilly standard, is particularly noticeable in tracks such as 'Witchcraft', Migraine', 'Runnin Wild' and 'Hitman'. Openly baring their influences, the cover versions include 'Brand New Cadillac' and the Generation X Punk anthem 'King Rocker'. Despite the quality on offer on this debut, the band never released another album until reforming and recording 'On Target' over two decades later. Although members of the band continued into the UK Psychobilly scene (with Guana Batz... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A real mixture of styles - and what a super backing group
Disadvantages: None

...the closest the album comes to a Who sound. It’s pleasant but not particularly memorable. John Entwistle provides brass backing (yes – he did play brass for a number of The Who tracks as well as on his own solo albums) 11. Till The Rivers All Run Dry (3:51) **** A gentle ballad with some good harmonies rounds off the album. Again there is a strong country, almost gospel flavour here. The track features Eric Clapton, John Entwistle and Billy Nichols (who has been backing vocalist on many of The Who tours). This song was co-written by Don Williams (the C&W singer-songwriter based in Nashville – he is still recording and has an extensive American tour in the latter half of 2003) and Wayland Holyfield. The cover insert has a sympathetic photograph of Pete and Ronnie (looking rather rough) framed by a collection of old cigarette cards... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful