What happens when Dante's Inferno gets moonshine spilled all over it, and is then set on fire? Hee Haw Hell, the latest from Dash Rip Rock.
I am always amazed at what Alternative Tentacles kicks out. The past year has shown such varied but great releases as Knights of The New Crusade, BloodHag, I Object and even a party rap/punk release from the old man of dirty rap, Blowfly. (That particular album was too raunchy for even me to touch, but do seek it out if you're not easily offended.) Dash Rip Rock's latest offering shows more of Jello's inspired ability to pick bands for his label.
Although you may have yet to hear of them, Dash Rip Rock have been playing partytime cowpunk since 1984. Hee Haw Hell seeks to raise the stakes, adding the literary element of a storyline based on Dante's Inferno, and creating, yep, a cowpunk narrative concept album/rock opera.
With music interspersed with spoken word, Hee Haw Hell is trip through, well, Hee Haw Hell. With Ol' Virg as your guide, you are taken through an infernal landscape populated by such demonic denizens as the ghosts of Skynyrd, some hippie jam bands and the people who sold out punk rock. The guest appearances are impressive as well, with Mojo Nixon as Beelzebubba, and Jello Biafra himself as the "punk rock demon".
Aside from the novelty of the album and its theme, the music is great. It's pure Louisiana cowpunk with all the trimmings, from the honky-tonk twang of the title track, to the psychobilly cover of "Man of Constant Sorrow", to the frantic "Chariots of Hellfire", with guest preaching from Mojo Nixon. Dirty Southern rock is rampant as well on tracks like "If You See Kay", "Southern Rain" and "MOAF" (which gains Motown points for the line "Her mama was a motorcycle cop in downtown Detroit").
Even if you slept through Dante in your English class, this is a version of the story that's accessible. Just like with BloodHag's Hellbent for Letters, Alternative Tentacles have found a way to make culture cool for everyone. And, if you've managed to overlook Dash Rip Rock's past 20 years of music, this album could quite possibly deliver salvation, keeping you from an infernal destination such as, well, you know.
