The Decline of the Country and Western Civilization: 1993-1999
The Decline of the Country and Western Civilization: 1993-1999
Lambchop have never been the most conventional of bands. Over the course of their career they’ve consistently confounded expectations with contra-conformist combinations of alt. country, classical music, soul, rock and, of course, the leftfield lyricism and idiosyncratic falsetto of inimitable vocalist Kurt Wagner. This compilation brings together a variety of A-sides, B-sides, comp tracks and unreleased songs that were recorded in the band’s formative years, between 1994 and 1999. The tracks are arranged in chronological order perhaps to illustrate the band’s progression, but since Lamchop’s music follows no patterns they might as well have been put together randomly. There are as many highlights as there are styles; the soft strums and melancholy strings of opening song “Soaky in the Pooper”; the wildly experimental “Two Kittens Don’t Make A Puppy”; the driving rock and doo-wop chorus of “Nine”. All of them smack of a band who were - and still are - admirably in constant communication with their creative muse. –Paul Sullivan
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