Heavy Trash's first album proved that
Jon Spencer (minus
the Blues Explosion) and
Matt Verta-Ray (formerly of
Speedball Baby) were naturals at laying down red-hot rockabilly and twisted honky tonk with a modern kick. Their second album solidifies and expands their sound with a batch of tough rockers, hip shaking dancefloor fillers, and lonesome ballads ("Crying Tramp" being the near match of the previous albums' centerpiece "Under the Waves") on par with anything on the first. Recorded with the help of Canadian roots rockers
the Sadies and members of Denmark's finest rock & roll bands (
Tremolo Beer Gut and
Powersolo) in various locales including Liam Watson's Toe Rag studio,
Going Way Out with Heavy Trash doesn't mess with the duo's formula much.
Spencer still croons wildly, mutters hilarious asides, and generally behaves like the guy with the lamp shade on his head (especially on album closer "You Can't Win" which is as weird a slice of avant-country-blues insanity you'll likely hear for awhile),
Verta-Ray provides swampy atmosphere, and the guest musicians give just the right amount of support without overwhelming the stars or the songs. The Sadies especially add some rich textures (acoustic guitars, rip roaring guitar solos and backing vocals) to standout tracks "They Were Kings," "Crazy Pritty Baby" and "Outside Chance." Not that these tracks stand out by much; the whole album is a barn rattler from top to bottom. Play this for anyone who thinks rock & roll is dead and gone.
Heavy Trash again prove that theory dead wrong. [An LP version was also released.] ~ Tim Sendra