THE YAYHOOS Fear Not the Obvious Put the Hammer Down( Bloodshot)
On these underground treasures, former Georgia Satellites frontman Dan Baird joins Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Del- Lords veteran Eric " Roscoe " Ambel and drummer Terry Anderson( writer of the Satellites ' " Battleship Chains " and Baird ' s solo single " I Love You Period "). Paul Westerberg, bassist and original Georgia Satellites member, and Keith Christopher also contribute the sturdy rocker " For Cryin ' Out Loud " on debut Fear Not the Obvious, and the chiming acoustic " Over the Top " on sophomore set Put the Hammer Down. The quartet distills every Rolling Stones and Faces-inspired riff from the members ' histories and piles them into the garage with Replacements-styled mayhem and heartache. The incendiary combination of raw talent ensures that the material never sags. The results are reliable countrified rock and cowpunk sets that couldn ' t have possibly been missed when blasting from any sweaty dive-bar stage the band inhabited during its all-too-infrequent tours. Envy the ones who got to see the band live, but count yourself lucky that Bloodshot now offers both albums remastered and on vinyl LP for the first time. 2001 ' s Fear Not the Obvious is a set of nofrills roots-rock that trails sparks at every turn. Ambel ' s Telecaster lines snarl throughout " What Are We Waiting For " in counterpoint to Baird ' s sturdy riff and howling barroom vocal. Baird leads the sly swagger of " Get Right with Jesus " and acoustic strummer " Bottle and the Bible," which shies from neither the vice nor the virtue. Ambel sings lead on " Monkey with a Gun," bouncing against Baird ' s snapping Ron Wood-styled lick and Anderson ' s taut fills. Anderson sings lead on " I Can Give You Everything," which is every bit as good a song as any Black Crowes single you care to name. Christopher ' s bass borrows from the Temptations ' " Ain ' t Too Proud to Beg " on the propulsive chorus. The Chuck Berry-styled " Oh! Chicago " tells the story of a small-town southern girl in the big city and begs of our hometown
that it would have mercy on " a redneck girl with high-class dreams." The grim riffrocker " Wicked World " is driven by Anderson ' s Bo Diddley beat while Baird prays that he ' ll be able to make it through his own trials. Ambel ' s bouncing and comical " Baby I Love You " alternates between words of true devotion and exasperated requests for a moment ' s respite. The album ' s remaining delights include Anderson ' s stomping Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- styled " Hunt You Down " and Baird ' s point-blank " Hankerin '." " I know you ' d be impressed with me; you just ain ' t met me yet," sings Baird. The album closes with a cheeky cover of ABBA ' s " Dancing Queen," primed for beer-soaked encore sing-alongs at the bar as Ambel and Christopher put some raunch into the pop classic ' s familiar melodic elements. 2006 ' s
Put the Hammer Down picks up the thread with another baker ' s dozen of surefire songs for any rowdy party. Among the highlights are the licentious " Where ' s Your Boyfriend At," the loping, grievance-laden boogie " Would It Kill You," and the grinding doo-wop of " Fittin ' to Do." Baird ' s defiant " Never Give an Inch " rages with a vibe not unlike the Mats ' " Bastards of Young." Low-brow fun, self-deprecating humor, and expert interplay continue on songs like the sleazy statement of purpose " Gettin ' Drunk." Imagine " Everything Anything " as a loopy theme song for a Yayhoos TV show, a la the Monkees. Ambel ' s lovelorn " Hurtin ' Thing " swings and chugs with buzzy rhythm guitars and Beach Boys harmonies, moving surprisingly close to early Weezer territory. " Between You and Me " may be melancholy, but it goes down easy with sublime 12-string jangle. Covers include the O ' Jays ' soulful " Love Train " spiced with shimmering gospel organ and the sugary high of the B-52s ' " Roam."( bloodshotrecords. com)
– Jeff Elbel
8 Fear Not the Obvious
7 Put the Hammer Down
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18 illinoisentertainer com december 2025