"The Scourge of the South"

The Tremors have an authentic rockabilly trio sound and have captured it well in this collection of 13 tracks, output from several different studios fitting together seamlessly although judging from the spirit of the music any stitching should stand right out, ugly and scarred like the stuff on the Frankenstein monster's neck. The Greensboro, NC, group wisely embraces all the important aesthetics of the genre, more than simply evoking monsters, psychedelia, rednecks, juvenile delinquents, and many other fun things in both the music and artwork. In terms of the sound it is exactly what a rockabilly fan would expect and want, this not being a genre that offers up creepy "progressive" or "fusion" alternatives. Groups playing with this kind of approach indeed exist internationally and on a superficial level all seem the same, symbolizing a kind of unification that seems at odds with rockabilly's rebel spirit. Unscrew these jars of homebrew and sniff: there will be variations in quality based on intricate aesthetic details that the Tremors hardly seem shaken by. The guitar is not overdone as is the case with certain groups overwhelmed by the difference in amplifier power in the last five decades. Jimmy Tremor's leads as well as his singing are a serpentine chase across back roads, an officer of the law probably in hot pursuit. The rhythm section of Slim Perkins and Stretch Armstrong is thoroughly enjoyable, their choice and feel of tempos complimenting the songs which are largely original but include a Jack Clement cover. Bassist Slim Perkins pulls off a coup on the wonderful "Who Took My Baby," perhaps playing a bit more aggressively than a traditional rockabilly cat but making you wish they had all listened to him.