Why didn't Johnny Marr ever play in an alt-country band? He would have thrived as a bad-ass hipster shitkicker. And how delightful would it be to behold Morrissey slouching about stage in a gimme cap, Dickies jacket, steel-toed work boots and five-day stubble? No matter how low your Smiths tolerance, you'll have to agree that the cosmic fit of a pseudo-redneck, fey Brit singing stuff like "If a double-decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die" is nothing short of inspired. Well, Hangtown gives you half of that hypothetical -- the Johnny Marr half. For those of you in need of your Morrissey twang fix, keep writing those letters begging for that Steve Earl-Morrissey duet album.
Like the Meat is Murder Manchester boys, Hangtown can spin a damn catchy guitar tune. Kudos to the guitarist who, with only two measures, can capture an audience's attention and compel one to stick around and see what happens next. The similarities between these two acts ends there. Hangtown's vocals share nothing with Morrissey. Rather, they're more along the lines of what you'd expect from a smart country band. The harmonies fall right into place and the choruses dare you not to sing along after only a couple listens. While some cuts, such as "Twist of Faith", evoke alt-country luminaries like the much revered and dearly missed Uncle Tupelo, other cuts take a more, well, '80s pop direction, albeit with the welcome addition of steel guitar.
"Let's Hide Away", with its simple guitar line and sleepy vocals, could easily have sounded like an outtake from the next Church record, had Hangtown simply been a bit more generous with the swirling effects pedals. It all boils down to this: these fellows write fine twang-infused pop songs. Though reminiscent of some memorable goodies from decades past, Eleven Reasons still manages to sound fresh and passionate. There's fire in the belly of these Hangtown boys. Let's hope they continue the tradition and blend in a little, say, Duran Duran into their next CD.
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