Franz Dobler: a boy named sue
Johnny Cash revisited
a compilation
Songs:
The Bionaut: I wish I was tied to Bertha
Gerry Lee & The Wanted Meen: Locomotive man
Guz: Guess things happen that way
Kingston Cowboys: Ring of fire
Cow: Jackson
Tilman Rossmy Quartett: Orange Blossom Special
Lily, Friends & Husband: Give my love to Rose
Hazzard County Moonshine Ramblers: Big River
Wioglaf Droste & Das Spardosenterzett: I won't back down
Alvaro: Senor Johnny Cash
Smokestack Lightning: Ring of fire
Hack Mack Jackson: Rusty Cage
Whils: Thirteen
Fred Is Dead: Don't take your guns to town
Danny Dziuk: Let the train blow the whistle
Bernadette La Hengst: Ein Mädchen namens Gerd
Mann Ohne Schmerzen: Big River
Queen Of Japan: Wanted Man
Three Shades Of Blue: Gdje je kod kuce, Mama
Review:
Two remarkable records within two years - ok, that's not too much, but in comparison to those dull times before 'The Land Of The Kantrie Giants' we had less than that. There are bands who have found their paths following country or other american roots, some even ´quite successful - like Fink. But I'm talking about a movement: The 'Kantrie Giants' and the 'Johnny Cash' compilations prove that there's more than one or two bands from Hamburg and Munich and in between. The sons and daughters of 'FSK' are GIANTS. So if you reda this, go out buy them and listen to them.
Along with his book 'The Beast In Me', Franz Dobler compiled a fine set of Johnny Cash cover versions, all done by german bands , at least bands of german residence. There are several tribute cds to be released around Johnny Cash's 70s birthday, some have illustrous names on it, like Emmylou Harris or Steve Earle. But what'll you get: Emmylou Harris sings Johnny Cash like Emmylou Harris does and has done. So what?
This compilation features some really unfamous though not necessarily infamous names. The only better known acts like Fink, who crop up under the name of 'Mann Ohne Schmerzen' (Man without hurt) or Peta Devlin and Bernadette Hengst from Die Braut Haut Ins Auge. But most of the names are new even to those whose interest in roots music is quite heavy, that is in american roots music. So from my point of view it's more a 'Kantrie Giants Vol. 2' than a mere cover album.
So what do you get: trashy, electronic, rockabilly, bluegrass, lo-fi or well produced ones. Many show that they have learned FSK's lessons, if you play American music you can't forget who you are. So one song is in German, some have a flavour devinitely influenced by german bands, other singers sing with very strong accent, so that there'll be no mistake: It's german bands who sing a tribute to a man who not only lived here for 3 years but who influenced a lot of bands in many ways. I like the unexpected stuff: Kingston Cowboys do a ska-version of 'ring of fire', Hack Mack Jackson, who Dobler calls a 'countrybillyswamprocktrashmachine' do an exciting version of 'rusty cage', Three Shades Of Blue do a rather tricky version of '5 feet high and rising'. They don't use the original words but a German version, which was called '
Where's home Mama?'. This is translated into the croatian language.
Right now, we're just around Johnny Cash's 80th birthday, the man dominates all media: radio, tv, papers are full of reviews. Some try to earn some dollars with his big name. The most convincing point with this compilation is that you'll be interested in listening to it, if you already have got all other Cash cds or tributes. It shed some light on bands, you won't hear on the main radio stations, who have no reports in the glossy magazines. Independent roots music is a creative scene - this is no question of believe: you can hear it!
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