Album Review- Bob Wayne "Till the Wheels Fall Off"
It is hard to believe it was only just over a year ago that Bob Wayne's semi-major label debut "Outlaw Carnie" was released. I loved the album and put it at #3 as my top albums of the year, and now, just months later, we get the follow up "Till the Wheels Fall Off"
Again, as with "Outlaw Carnie", we get a mix of brand new tracks, mixed in with some old classics from Bob's self released independent releases. Only, this time, we get many more new tracks!
The album opens with the title track, a song that Bob has been opening shows with for a while now, and the track translates perfect on record. It is a perfect start for folks that may not know of Bob Wayne. He gets "fuck" out there right of the bat in the first chorus. After that, over half of the tracks include that word. So, if you are easily offended, stay away from this one. I am not sure why you would be on this website in the first place, but it is a cautionary statement non the less.
Up next is a song that was originally released on the Outlaw Radio Chicago Compilation: Volume One in 2010, "Ain't No Diesel Trucks in Heaven". I am not being biased here, but, personally, I enjoy the original, stripped down version much better. It was just Bob and his guitar, singing in his low pitched, Cash-like vocals. The full band version is just fine, but, I would've been fine with him re-releasing the acoustic version.
"All my Friends" is next, a drug opus duet with Hank3. This song is killer. It reflects the good times he has had with his friends, in this case Heroin, Cocaine, and LSD. I must say, Shelton provides some of his purest and most country vocals I have heard from him in a while.
"Get there When I Get There" is the song that Bob famously wrote at his his camper at Muddy Roots 2011 with friends and fans gathering around. Those who were present got a special treat, as this is one of the stand out tunes on this record. A classic sounding country number about death and hell.
Some older Bob Wayne songs, other than "Diesel Trucks" that were re-recorded for this album include "Fuck the Law" and "Devil's Son". "Fuck the Law" is kept pretty close to the original, but, this version of "Devil's Son" is a bit of a let down. I consider it one of Bob's best, and most upbeat songs. It is a barn burner live, and it gets folks on their feet. However, this time around, the chorus includes female lead vocals that really bring down the tone and power of the hard-hitting catch.
However, another song with female vocals done perfectly is "Lyza", another classic story song. This time about a girl that was abused by her father, left home, and got into a truck with another abusive man. Lyza kills the trucker, and goes on the run. Along the way, Lyza finds much more trouble, ends up killing more folks, and makes out with some cash. Bob is a story teller above all, and this track is him at his finest.
"Wives of Three", and "All Those One Night Stands" are two other great tracks. Some may find the tones offensive or misogynist. I find these songs damn entertaining. Folks who get offended by silly songs and lyrics obviously take music and life too seriously and need to chill out and have a good time by singing along to the words, especially the line, "Lets Have a good time, and fuck all night"
"Lost Vegas" is another song that has been making it into Bob's set list lately, and it another story song. This time about losing it all in the city of sin.
The album closes out with two slower numbers "Hunger in my Soul", and "A Pistol and a Hundred Dollar Bill", before taking us on a ride for the finale "Spread my Ashes on the Highway", the longest song on the album taking the listeners through a whirl wind of emotions about what to do when he dies starting with "tell my mother I love her", "remember me in a song", and "give my brother my guitar". All of this is fine and dandy until the song kicks in and Bob tells us what he really wants us to do when he passes. "Smoke some weed and fuck some whores", "drive real fast and shoot at cops", and of course, "take my money and buy some coke, than do it off some strippers ass".
Bob Wayne is offensive, Bob Wayne is cocky, and Bob Wayne is ridiculous. But, above all, Bob Wayne kicks fucking ass and so does this album. It is a great time and a fun record. And, lyrics aside, the music is top notch country picking. This is a country album above all, and it is a country album done right. You can listen to it over and over and not get tired of it. I am very happy he wasted no time releasing this album, as I was looking forward to it.
3.5/4 Moons!
Focus Tracks: "Lost Vegas", "Spread my Ashes on the Highway", and "Wives of Three"
"Till the Wheels Fall Off" can be purchased online RIGHT NOW at: Century Media Records, Amazon, or at many other online shops!
Tour dates can be found at Bobwayne.org
