"I've been a fan of Trent Summar's live shows for nearly 10 years. He writes great songs (The Dope Smokers song is destined to be a cult classic and will go over great when he opens for Willie Nelson this month), has great players (though the band is based around twangy rock guitars and driving bass, don't be surprized to see a fiddle player hop in) and KNOWS how to entertain while on stage (if Mick Jagger was from a small town in Tennessee, he'd dance just like Trent). So, I of course was looking forward to his album, and like the live show, it's an experience that leaves me satisfied. The cuts range from dance-a-billy numbers like New Money to the lonesome side of town barroom two-step waltzer, Starletta. If you're a fan of old country or newer stuff, this album rides the center of those two "genres" and also will keep your rock and roll bones happy. Do you like Earle? Do you like Merle? If you said yes to either, you're gonna like this album."
Way Rockin' Country
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 09/22/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD rocks hard and doesn't stop. "Paint Your Name In Purple" is a scorching rocker as Trent wails, "One of these days I want to make you my wife." "It's always sunny, my jokes are funny 'cause I got new money," he rocks out on the second track. Electric guitar slices angrily through "Too Busy Missing You," "I don't give a damn for someone new cause I'm too busy missing you." The New Row Mob doesn't slow down until track 4. They take Albert Hammond's schlock pop song "It Never Rains in Southern California" and transform it into a moving country ballad. "I'm underfed and underloved," Trent sings. They don't slow down long however! "I'm Country" is a rural rocker with a great vocal rebel attitiude, "I grow my own." The boys work up a sweat on "Colene," "You treat me like a dog while I treat you like a doggone queen." More rockin' on "The Beat Don't Ever Stop." They slow for a breath on the great country weeper "Starletta," You grew up free, and you grew up wild as a second generation flower child." "Metal, Stone, Glass & Wood" pops as if it were Fred Eaglesmith's progeny. An aching ballad, "Be So Blue," is good for a tear in your beer. "Lookout Mountain" winds up rockin', "I'm a cultured man, seen 7 states, like the strawberry wine, eat a chicken fried steak." Trent Summar & New Row Mob is hard rockin' country. The songwriting is consistently strong, and the cover is an amazing transformation. Don't miss out!"
Mob Rules!!!
mistersipi | Nashville, TN USA | 09/22/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Trent Summar comes from a world of muscle cars, Bar-B-Que, waterbeds, double-wide trailers, above-ground swimming pools, and ZZ Top on a honky-tonk jukebox. If you've never been to this world...he can take you. This is one of the finest alternative country discs to come out of uptight Music City. May there be more. Hick rock at its best."
Trent Sumnar "Get's It!"
Jason W. Ludeman | Missoula, MT | 03/22/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Trent Sumnar and the New Row Mob flat "Get It Done"! There music is just what we need more of out here in the West. In Washington, we are famous for Alternative or "Grunge" Rock, but no one has ventured as far as to diversify the country strains out here in the Great Northwest. Believe me, it would be welcomed.I first caught this band on CMT and immeadiately bought the album off of Amazon. To this day I still haven't heard them on a local radio station. I guess I'll either have to move down South or invite them out for a party at my house!This album is recommended to all who love to get out on the open road in their Cadillac and crank the tunes. Have a great spring everyone!"
Nashville's real deal
saltylizard | 03/28/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Trent Summar sang with a band called Hank Flamingo based out of the Nashville area. Tying the Rolling Stones to Jason and the Scorchers, then mixing it all together with a solid serving of the Bottle Rockets, Flamingo, and now the New Row Mob pull no punches.Summar has put together a group of Nashville's most revered session players to back his honky-tonk howl. Blending a realistic look at small town Tennessee living with a solid dose of comedy, the first album by the Mob is well written, well played and supremely satisfying.Summar is touring this summer with Charlie Daniels on the "Volunteer Jam" circuit. His style of southern, barn door rattling, honkytonk power country is a great fit with that bill. The production on this album is solid, with the vocals very present, but not enough to overpower the scorching guitar. Lyrically, this is a very straightforward record, detailing the plight of small town love from the Joe Diffie "John Deere Green" school of romance, being homesick for the Tennessee hills and the girls that make them worth singing about.If you like Jason and the Scorchers, the Bottle Rockets, Charlie Daniels or the like, pick this CD up."