After Grog Blog: THE AUGER SANCTION

Jim White's first two albums were marked by decidedly off-beat lyrics combined with a spare and abrasive musical accompaniment.

His third, Drill a Hole ... , with Joe Henry on board as producer, takes the emphasis off the idiosyncratic lyrics and puts it on the arrangements. The word "lush" comes to mind.

All things being equal, you'd expect his next to combine the best of all three albums and come up with a classic for the ages.

This one's certainly not a classic, but it's fine by me.

I agree with Andrew Gilstrap at Popmatters.

The only song that feels like an odd fit is "Alabama Chrome", helmed by Barenaked Ladies. Despite a promising start, in which White recites a litany of day-by-day deterioration and miscellaneous semantic arguments, a too-slick chorus threatens to bring the whole thing apart. And then a pitter-patter vocal breach into the song by the Ladies themselves does derail it beyond repair. "If Jesus Drove a Motor Home" doesn't quite work, either, but at least it's in keeping with Jim White tradition.

And with Dom Sinacola at Cokemachine Glow.

"Alabama Chrome" enlists the help of everyone's favorite naked chubby guys, the Barenaked Ladies. Jim holds his own, churning through familiar alt-twang fare, but Ed Robertson diarrheas all over what could be an intriguing ditty, ruining it completely. This must be the sound of Jim White getting Danza Slapped, because there can't be any other way he would collaborate on such schlock.

And NOT with Adam Sweeting at The Guardian

From a very fine bunch of songs, try the twangsome Alabama Chrome or the immensely deadpan If Jesus Drove a Motor Home ("midnight at the waffle house - Jesus eating eggs with y'all") just for starters.

AGB Rating - Credit