Scott H. Biram

Dirty Old One Man Band - (Bloodshot Records)

This is good medicine.

A wildman armed with his guitar, harmonica, and whatever else is lying around, Scott H. Biram's been making a big noise down south for a few years, but Dirty Old One Man Band, by way of being on Bloodshot Records, is bound to bring this guy the attention he deserves.  He deserves a lot, and you deserve to be good to yourself and jump on the battered pickup truck ("bandwagon" just doesn't seem right).

Biram brings a whole lotta fire and brimstone to his brand of raw country-blues, and Dirty Old One Man Band sound more like a man on a mission rather than just a bunch o' songs.  Yeah, it's got soul, brothers and sisters, and you can believe every growl outta this guy.

Like the title suggests, aside from a band called The Weary Boys sitting in on "Truck Driver" and the 30-second "BBQ Commercial", this is indeed a one-man-show combining Biram both in the studio and in his natural habitat on stage ("There's only one reason I came here tonight.  To take your fuckin' money!  Put it in the tip jar!").  What surprises is how well Biram's desperate and urgent songs translate in the studio, with songs like "Hit The Road" and his turbo-charged version of "Muleskinner Blues" not losing anything.  The decidedly lo-fi sound Biram employs, of course, has a lot to do with it but the fact is that Biram puts heart and soul into these workouts as well - even approaching "sweet" on the wonderful acoustic (most of the songs have Biram at his electric) song "Wreck My Car".

Biram continues throughout Dirty Old One Man Band with tales of cheatin' hearts, chicken sandwiches, and drivin' rigs (celebrating trucker culture with "CB Transmissions"). Beneath Biram's extremes (which we love), however, is an artist that is committed to his craft.  His country references, blues stylings, and rock and roll swagger all come from a place he knows intimately.  The end result makes for a profound and relentless CD that'll energize pretty much anyone. 

If it doesn't do that for you, better see a doctor.

8.0