'Not The Beginning, Not The End' is the third long player to be released by Leicester based Mr Plow, who have gained a cult following over the last few years with their albums of despair and murder ballads.
The band's sound has been variously described as murderbilly, gothic country, and American noir, all of which pretty much sum up what they are capable of. The band's first E.P. of murder ballads was released in 2008 and is pretty much impossible to find except on download. They followed this up in 2009 with the album 'The Book of Common Despair' and 2011 saw the release of their second album 'Joyful In Song Are We'. So, what of the latest – album number three? Well, this was my introduction to the band and I have to say that overall, the album is very good, and in places just brilliant.
The opening track 'Satan Wandered In' is a marvellous piece of slow, twangy guitar rockabilly, with gospel backing vocals and Mr Plow's Johnny Cash style baritone hitting the spot with style:-
“Well somebody never locked the door, And Satan wandered in for sure/ Well somebody shoulda locked the door, Now Satan's wandered in for sure/ Well somebody betta hold the door, Cos Satan ain't gonna be welcome no more/ And the children will rejoice sing hallelujah praise to Jesus oh lord”.
The gospel elements of the track are treated with tongue firmly in cheek, the same of which can be said of the track 'Jesus Loves Monster Trucks' a frantic rockabilly sounding track that has a guitar riff not a million miles away from The Fall's 'Industrial Estate'. Once again, the lyrics raise a smile: - “My prayers were answered, before my eyes. If I wanna spread the word I gotta mobilise/ My Ford F-150 cabin jacked up outta sight. I drive a monster truck for Jesus every night”.
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Where the band really stand out is with the brilliant 'Bag Of Bones', a slow mournful country ballad, upon which comparisons with Johnny Cash's later American Recordings will undoubtedly be heaped. There is an air of weary finality in Mr Plow's vocals, as he intones: - “What am I s'posed to do with this bag of bones?
No use to anybody, I don't need them where I'm going/ I'm sorry to have to leave you here, so sorrowful on your own/ My love there's not an ounce of life left in this bag of bones”.
Another stand out track is the marvellous anti-war 'Ballad of Enduring Freedom', with it's twangy guitar and bright tune acting a s a contrast to the darkness of the lyrics: - “Mom and dad can't bring themselves to look at me/ Or the rollin' groaning shame I've come to be/ The click beneath my boots, the Asian war,
And I'm torn apart across the desert floor”.
This is absolutely riveting as you hear the story of the maimed veteran whose contact with a land mine changed him forever. “I stopped living when I stood upon that spring”.
The album is currently available as a download, or can be purchased on vinyl from:
Mr Plow's Place online from 11th August.
The vinyl comes with a CD copy and full lyrics. This is an absolute must for a Summer buy!
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