This Carolina quintet's debut studio album, "Throwin' Rocks at the Moon," has craft to spare. Some of the credit must go to producer Pete Anderson, who stripped away the excess and revealed the essential core of the song... more »s. Most of the credit, though, must go to singer/guitarists Chip Robinson and Stephen Howell, who have written songs full of tenderness, melancholy and joyful release and have given them vocals which suggest as much as they state. "Hey Sheriff" has been transformed from a melodramatic bar-band blues into a moody honky-tonk tune where the defiant confrontation with the police is now tinged with fear and desperation. But when the Backsliders decide to rock out, as they do on "My Baby's Gone" and the title track, they do so with an infectious abandon that's hard to resist. --Geoffrey Himes« less
This Carolina quintet's debut studio album, "Throwin' Rocks at the Moon," has craft to spare. Some of the credit must go to producer Pete Anderson, who stripped away the excess and revealed the essential core of the songs. Most of the credit, though, must go to singer/guitarists Chip Robinson and Stephen Howell, who have written songs full of tenderness, melancholy and joyful release and have given them vocals which suggest as much as they state. "Hey Sheriff" has been transformed from a melodramatic bar-band blues into a moody honky-tonk tune where the defiant confrontation with the police is now tinged with fear and desperation. But when the Backsliders decide to rock out, as they do on "My Baby's Gone" and the title track, they do so with an infectious abandon that's hard to resist. --Geoffrey Himes
"It's just too bad this original line-up didn't stay together to release a follow-up. I've been told that The Backsliders had a large and dedicated fan base throughout central Carolina and the Southeast and it's no wonder why. All 11 songs are great. The record starts out with stompers like My Baby's Gone and the title song. Crazy World is a fine change of pace - a somber loner country song. If I Was King of the World is a great country rocker but...I wouldn't describe the album as country rock. That genre best describes that easy-goin' sound from L.A. in the early 70's. This my friends is a rockin' synthesis of alternative country and roots rock, sort of Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris meets The Blasters. The best of both worlds. Mix great vocals and great tunes with twangin', sometimes jangly guitar sounds and a steady rhythm section and you have one terrific album."
AWESOME!
James Greene | north carolina | 08/28/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"great cd from a great band---seen them many times and prefer this line-up to the new one(Im sorry to say) If you get the chance to see them live DO IT! IF I WERE KING--just flat rocks! Also COWBOY BOOTS is pretty close to the live version---Pete Anderson did a great job here. What else can I say BUY IT--youll be glad you did!"
These hicks can play!
Brian D. Rubendall | Oakton, VA | 05/23/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This here is a good ol' fashoned down home, scrape the manure off the boots country rock album with a lot of heart. The Backsliders know how to whoop it up ("My Baby's Gone") be serious ("Hey Sheriff') make a proposal ("King of the World") and engage in some good old fashioned rockabilly ("Lonesome Teardrops"). The best song, however, is "Cowboy Boots," which ought to warm the heart of every hayseed who ever took his philly to a hoedown. Country rock fans, this is yer album."
Must Have CD
B. Coker | Elkhorn, WI United States | 11/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This has become one of those essential albums to own, like Turning Point by John Mayall, Live at Filmore East by Allman Bros. You will pull it out over and over. It's a unique blend of rockabilly, real country and rock. Every song is great."