Search - Cowboy Mouth :: It Means Escape

Great album from a unique band

mamlin | Austin, TX United States | 12/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you already know Cowboy Mouth then I'll say that this album is "core" Cowboy Mouth. If you don't know Cowboy Mouth then go to CowboyMouth.com and find out where you can go see a show! Cowboy Mouth is an EXCELLENT live band and 'It Means Escape' is their best non-live collection of true-to-type Cowboy Mouth tunes. Cowboy Mouth can best be described as "hard-folk-rock" with a bit of Cajun and Irish influence. Beyond that it's too hard to describe (I've been trying to for 10 years).If you're new to CM then you should check out their newest disc, 'Easy'. It's a great collection of songs and is more radio-friendly then the other CM albums. 'Escape', however, is a little more "raw" and better encapsulates the feel and sound of a CM concert.The first track, "Why Ya Wanna Do Me?", is a quick, fun, pounding romp to get you set up for the uplifting driving-rocker "Man On The Run" (one of my favorite CM tunes). A wee bit of Irish flavor pops up in "Looked Like A Woman" (performed in the style of a funny tale sung with exchanged chorus lines); later you get more overt Irish treatment with the traditional-sounding songs "Hitchhiker" and "Irish Boy" (all written by rhythm guitarist Paul Sanchez).The best version of the ever-present CM track "How Do You Tell Someone?" appears on 'Escape'. This song is the most infectious-sounding Cowboy Mouth creation and appears remade on more CM albums than any other song. Track four, "Here I Sit In Prison", is a rockin' country-song-flavored sing-along favorite that is rarely left out of a CM concert playlist. "My Little Blue One", "Jenny Marie", and "Angel With A Broken Wing" are enjoyable tracks that help flesh out the "core" of Cowboy Mouth's signature sound.This album is great but is ten times more enjoyable after you've seen Cowboy Mouth perform live. I highly recommend the combination of album/live performance. Barring that, pick up a copy of 'It Means Escape' AND a copy of 'Easy' to get a feel of what this band is about."

Cowboy Mouth - It Means Escape

mamlin | 06/21/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Cowboy Mouth is a band that you really have to see live to truly appreciate. That being said, if you're going to listen to one of their CD's first, this is a good one to start with. "Escape" is the CD where they really show off their influences, from 80's inspired tracks like "Jenny Marie" to the perfect pop rock of "Why You Wanna Do Me?" and the folky heartbreak of "My Little Blue One", this is an album that's got something for everyone. Also, "Irish Boy" is one of the better songs ever written. The three "lead singers" also get to shine on this album, with everyone getting a few tracks to show off his chops. Subsequent Mouth CD's have featured many of the tracks heard on this disc, but its great to hear them in their more primitive form before the band had access to major label production values."