Trailercana
by: Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Trubadours
(DPR Records)
I have really been having fun listening to this one, Trailercana, the new release from Antsy McLain and The Trailer Park Troubadours. It’s kind of like a country-fried Barenaked Ladies, with witty southern lyrics and infectious hummable melody lines.
McLain is backed by a stellar cast of musicians, including Brian Owings, Dave Pomeroy, Bobby Cochran and many others. Special guests include Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac, Tommy Smothers and Bonnie Bramlett, who sounds great harmonizing on “Joan of Arkansas.”
The songs are all great, from the trailer park anthem “Living in Aluminum,” to the rocking “The Devil Gets More Credit Than He Deserves.” “I Was Just Flipped Off By a Silver Haired Old Lady with a Honk if You Love Jesus Sticker On The Bumper of her Car” is reminiscent of Shel Silverstein and “KOA Refugee” would fit perfectly onto a Commander Cody album.
“I Married Up” hits close to home for a lot of us southern boys and “Ron Howard’s Brother” is just genius, addressing a question I have asked for years, "how does this kid get all these movie roles?" Oh yeah. He’s Ron Howard’s brother!
The only song I don’t care for is “Dora’s Dark Side,” not because it isn’t witty and fun, but because the "Sam Kenison" screaming really throws me. It’s a personal thang. But if you think that minor nag is enough to make me hold back from highly recommending this slab of plastic, think again. This one is fresh, funny, danceable and just downright fun. Like spitting watermelon seeds at the four pink flamingos out in front of the trailer on a warm summer evening. Okay, so the analogy is weak. The record sure ain’t.
-Michael Buffalo Smith