Corey

Sharek

 

It’s funny that music merchandising is all based on visuals and optical concepts and how it sits on the shelves of stores.  Ironically, most music is merchandised and marketed heavily in here United States and yet it’s the product itself that usually gets overlooked when a new disc is acquired.  The packaging and artwork are what the record companies hope will draw you into spending money on their item.  This is the part in the CD their work goes into. And yet, it’s the part that hits the trashcan without a second glance as soon as the disc gets slid into the player.  Damn shame, especially in this case.

The tri-fold packaging is almost an LP throwback in its luster.  Credits are due to the photographer David McClister and The Heron Company for the design of the jacket. Musicians will notice that there’s a touch of humor by Mr. Summar’s feet being propped up on a solid state Fender Princeton (not exactly an iconic piece of gear).  In fact, coupled with the Billy Idol sneer on the next panel, the hokey white boots and red slacks, you get an acute sense of the jocoseness that you can expect from the disc’s music.  Clearly, Trent does not take himself that seriously.  I’ll buy.  Let’s spin it for fun, whaddya say?

The first arpeggios of this record start giving the first glimpse of how much Trent Summar knows how to pick a producer who neatly augments his style.  Throughout the first 16 bars of this record, through the build and into the motif, you get a keen sense that this is going to be a great sounding record. With a record that sounds this good, it’s hard to divert your ears to the goods…the writing.  I was not aware of how much others have covered Mr. Summar, nor was I aware of how much of a scene staple he is.  Consider this a bit of literary foreshadowing.

At any rate, the first cut and title track “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades” is a smarter song than it lets on to be.  It’s catchy, fun and witty.  I can’t give a huge thumbs-up on tracks like this because they usually don’t wear well in the seat over time.  Suffice it to say, I really like it for what it is to me now.

“Love You” points back to my take in last and previous paragraphs.  This song is the testament to how other artists feel about his work.  Jack Ingram rocked out this song to make it a modernly marketable dish.  In rare form over the original, I think I prefer Ingram’s version, but there’s no doubt as to why it was covered; this song borders brilliant.  And again, is a much smarter song than the surface reveals.

Starting to see a pattern develop? Keep reading…

“Guys Like Me,” reminds me why I like country music.  Its one part Bakersfield, as lyrically mentioned, one part Honky Tonk, served straight up.  Distilled, it’s an ode to the Country Crooner, with a touch of Buck’s licks and JR’s horn piece from “Ring of Fire”.

TEEE-WANG! “She Knows What to Do (With a Saturday Night)” perfects it.  This song should be mandatory in jukeboxes.  His girl likes to dance, pour drinks and have a good time, and that’s about all there is to it.

Aussie Keith or that shirtless turtle will make a hit song out of “Supposed To Do”.  Just another in a simple song, simply well performed and simply crafted.

“Hayride” is another twanger.  Whoever’s manning the Telecaster’s got it down.  This one musta had something else in it that I’m not hearing because beyond the performances, the songwriting’s not necessarily the strength of this one.

Dissimilar to the preceding song, “Louisville Nashville Line” is also a twangin banger, but with some substance to carry you to the end of the song.  Similarly and unfortunately, I think it needs something because the flavor is there, but the meat of it is a bit sparse between bites.

Every time I hear this next track, I hear Robbie Fulks.  That, from me, is a high compliment. “Really Never Loved Her Anyway” has that same vibe that Fulks’ “Georgia Hard” has; only this one’s about the subject not doing the things he so wanted to do.

Pink John Deere is another strong performance without much to back it up on the page.  Not to be derogatory, but it’s reminiscent of what it would sound like if John Anderson in his “Chicken Truck” era sang BR5-49’s ‘Little Ramona (Gone Hillbilly Nuts)’.

I’m gonna skip track 10 for right now.  I’ll get to it in a paragraph or two.

The CD ender ‘Girl from Tennessee’ is far too close to another song that it’s hard for me to judge it fairly.  The song that it is similar to is among the better songs about girls from Texas, so to draw comparisons is entirely unfair.  I recommend that if the preceding passages of this review have you interested, you be the judge and ignore me.

I first saw Trent Summar at Texas Music Revolution 10, a concert put on by a local radio station and watched him separate himself from the other singer/songwriters.  He was dressed like a Branson Opry star, he was an M-80 firecracker of energy, and most importantly, he didn’t need a guitar as a prop.  It was invigorating to see a front man act like a front man.  It was elements of Axl Rose, or even Elvis.  He used the mic stand as part of the show.  I remember saying how refreshing it was to see someone command the stage and make it larger than life.  Then he busted into track 10.

Now, let’s talk track 10.  The original song has been called the greatest country song of all time, it’s been called the saddest country song of all time and it’s time for an update.  Trent Summar, live in concert, blew my socks off by taking a holy artifact of the country music world and punk-rocking it out.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Trent Summar has punked out “He Stopped Loving Her Today”.  And it’s awesome!  I get this believable Misfits-type vibe from the performance on the disc that only someone who knows punk would be able to conjure.  Hats off for having the brass to pull off this gem.

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, the packaging is what the record marketers want you to be enticed by, and it’s what their investment amounted to, but yet it probably hit the Hefty as soon as “Horseshoes” kicked in.  It’s a good thing too, in my opinion because as good as the package is, it’s the special gift inside that’s the fun part, especially the 10th track.
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Grade: B-

Corey Sharek, December, 2006

1. Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
2. Love You
3. Guys Like Me
4. She Knows What to Do (With a Saturday Night)
5. Supposed To Do
6. Hayride
7. Louisville Nashville Line
8. Really Never Loved Her Anyway
9. Pink John Deere
10. He Stopped Loving Her Today
11. Girl from Tennessee

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