I have to say that "Red Meat" is the least attractive name for a band I've heard since the gory days of punk. Maybe it resonates differently over in California; come to think of it, maybe it's just a wind-up for all those self-righteous right-on middle class vegetarian professionals...or something like that.
Anyway, an unpromising name, an unpromising cover shot of aging urban cowboy musicians, and an unpromising track-listing of standard honky tonk titles all hide an album of some surprising jolliness.
Uncomplicated, for sure, with lyrics that expect no difficulty getting themselves over to a bar crowd, but they vary the menu adroitly, getting us all dancing with "Moonrock", guitarist Michael Montalto's instrumental, and chucking in last dance numbers like "Sunday". Sharing the vocals around the band with Jill Olsen and Smelley Kelley contrasting particularly well, and varying the sound from classic rocking honky-tonk to the swing-come-dixieland of "High Maintenance Babe", eveything is performed with a whole-hearted professionalism that never ever forgets that this is all about fun.
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And if you're looking for further recommendation then look no further than the producer credit: none other than the mighty Dave Alvin.
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