Released in 1985,
Fear and Whiskey
is credited as the album that began the
alt-country
marketing category. True or not, it shouldn't be held against one of the greatest records ever.
The Mekons
were one of the most loved and hated bands on the late-'70s/early-'80s
punk
scenes in England. In 1984 they began touring with drummer
Steve Goulding
(
Graham Parker & the Rumour
) and bassist
Lu Edmonds
PIL
,
Damned
), who joined
John Langford
Tom Greenhalgh
, and
Kevin Lycett
. To record
they added fiddler
Suzie Honeyman
and guitarist
Dick Taylor
. The original disc was issued on the band's own
Sin Records
to much ballyhoo by critics like
Greil Marcus
. A few years later,
Rough Trade
reissued it with a few EPs added and called it
Original Sin
. This version is the original, completely remastered by the band. Musically
is awash in the delirium of the
Reagan
and
Thatcher
'80s.
Country
melodies collide into
reggae
rhythms and drones to create a forlorn tale in
"Trouble Down South"
; the title track is pure
Hank
hillbilly with lyrics that may not be as simple and poetic but do the job, as the tune creates a base from which to pick up the bottle or dance. But it's not all
country
and roots, unless those roots still include the dynamic of shambolic
punk rock
, which is the core of
"Hard to Be Human Again."
Despite its
melody line, which falls apart constantly, the guitars blare and falter, the drums pound on needlessly, and the band cavorts the tune like it's the end of the gig and it only track three. Seriously, there isn't a song on this disc that
Langford
Greenhalgh
don't turn into some epic repudiation of capitalism, depersonalization, greed, and social engineering. The fact is, these serious topics are dealt with in a piss-take way to music that carries everything from
honky tonk
, hillbilly,
rockabilly
folk
melodies all entwined with each other in a myriad of ways so complex, so drunkenly passionate, you just have to laugh -- as you dance, that is. A bona fide classic. ~ Thom Jurek