Throwback Tuesday: The Bottle Rockets

Jeff McMahon (Original Album)

Brian Henneman has really been all over the place in the alt-country world. He’s worked with Uncle Tupelo and they have worked with him. He played lead guitar on Wilco’s debut A.M. (definitely the most out and out country album of theirs). But from the first note of his songs, he really sounds like no one else.

I have loved “The Brooklyn Side” for years. It combines humor, irresistibly rockin’ guitar licks, and truly innovative songwriting. Somehow Brian seems to strike the most consistent balance between the spirit of cowpunk and the sensibility and care of thoughtful songwriting.

Little did I know, the Bottle Rockets’ eponymous debut is every bit as strong of an album as the sophomore effort. “Wave That Flag” rocks with the kind of mocking tone that shows Henneman’s intimate knowledge of southern patriotism and his discomfort with it. It seems like a song that many people would sing along with and not know that they were being mocked. When he sings :”If somebody owned your ass how would you feel” it seems like an interesting view of what a flag means. Â The venomous words are directed at those who seem to wave the flag out without thinking about it.

The most poignant song repeats “If kerosene works, why not gasoline.” Its such a devastating idea that a trailer burns out over this idea. Henneman delivers the lyrics without flinching.

The driving country beat of “Every Kinda Everything” reminds me of the irresistible licks on “Indianapolis.” Yet the lyrics are tumbling forward and hilarious at the same time. He sings “You’re a little tomato / You’re a hot little dish” and then talks about my favorite cookie, “You’re my sweet and I can’t get enough /Â You’re an oreo cookie with double stuff /Â I’m so fat on you, I won’t ever get skinny no more.” It’s both aggressive and hilarious.

Shawn Underwood (Bonus Material)

It’s nearly impossible to hear the birth of a style of music by listening to a single album, but with The Brooklyn Side Reissues by The Bottle Rockets, you have just that opportunity. Â Brian Henneman formed the band in 1992 after he left Uncle Tupelo. Â But as you listen to this project, it’s obvious the seeds of The Bottle Rockets started before that since the reissue includes a few classic Rocket’s songs with Uncle Tupelo as Henneman’s band, including Indianapolis and Idiot’s Revenge.

While it’s easy to hear the country part of alt country in the acoustic versions of the songs on this disc, you also get the alt (and punk) influence with songs like Brand New Year and Coffee Monkey from an earlier Henneman project. Â Mash up those styles, throw in the white trash stories of middle America the band is known for, and voila, out come The Bottle Rockets and alt country classics like 1000 Dollar Car and Smokin’ 100s Alone.

About the author: Jeff is a teacher in the Boston area. When not buried correcting papers, Jeff can be found plucking various stringed instruments and listening to all types of americana music.