Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

Consumer Guide:
  User's Guide
  Grades 1990-
  Grades 1969-89
  And It Don't Stop
Books:
  Book Reports
  Is It Still Good to Ya?
  Going Into the City
  Consumer Guide: 90s
  Grown Up All Wrong
  Consumer Guide: 80s
  Consumer Guide: 70s
  Any Old Way You Choose It
  Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
Xgau Sez
Writings:
  And It Don't Stop
  CG Columns
  Rock&Roll& [new]
  Rock&Roll& [old]
  Music Essays
  Music Reviews
  Book Reviews
  NAJP Blog
  Playboy
  Blender
  Rolling Stone
  Billboard
  Video Reviews
  Pazz & Jop
  Recyclables
  Newsprint
  Lists
  Miscellany
Bibliography
NPR
Web Site:
  Home
  Site Map
  Contact
  What's New?
    RSS
Carola Dibbell:
  Carola's Website
  Archive
CG Search:
Google Search:
Twitter:

Maddox Brothers and Rose

  • Columbia Historic Edition [Columbia, 1985] B+

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Columbia Historic Edition [Columbia, 1985]
These Alabama-born Californians wore pre-Nudie suits, called their music "Okie boogie," and eventually settled in Hollywood, yet somehow little sister Rose is now a minor bluegrass icon who respects the verities for labels like Takoma and Arhoolie. I prefer her Hollywood. Admirers of the Morrells' cover of "Ugly and Slouchy" will have some idea how hot and funny "The Hiccough Song" and "I've Got Four Big Brothers" and their sendup of "I've Got a Woman" are. But when Rose puts heart and soul into "Green Grow the Lilacs" or "Bringing In the Sheaves," I keep expecting one of her bros to break into a stage cackle, and it never happens. B+