Joe And Tupelo

I have to say that for you music fans in Texas, the reissue of Uncle Tupelo's Anodyne is worth the (sale) price on the basis of their version of "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" alone.

Turns out that this version features the great Joe Ely on lead vocals backed by the UT boys.

And unlike most of the Shiner-Bock-Texas-Music Idiots* who feel the need to do this song (badly), Joe does a kick-butt job with it (as he does with every song he's ever deigned to cover in his life). For you Texas music fans who don't have the original Anodyne, there's also that fine Doug Sahm song "Give Back The Key To My Heart" in addition to all the other great Tupelo stuff. Much of the crowd that worships Tupelo may not appreciate it, but it's nice to see those guys pay a little homage to artists who were doing roots rock/country crossover when they were still in diapers. (We would also note that we're particularly fond of the Dead End Angels cover of that fine Sahm tune).

* I have nothing against the Texas Music artists who feel the need to blare out songs about drinking and Texas roadhouses, and I like that stuff a lot when it's done well. But when you have artists imitating artists imitating artists imitating Pat Green, quality tends to decline just a bit. Even at our venerable Firehouse, I've heard some of these bands as openers, and wondered just what the hell they thought they were accomplishing.

[Posted at 11:26 CST on 04/19/03] [Link]