200 Years
Artist: The Payola Reserve 
Label: Indie
Length: 13/41:20 

Forget placing a label on this group.  Too many styles, too many different subreferences, too many influences to narrow down.  Let's just start with this: these guys can play. 200 Years is an apt title, as the music contained here encompasses southern blues, Appalachian folk, country, soul, pop, and good old American rock and roll.

"Jugband Joan" is a Beatles on acid Americana tune, with a trace of Jellyfish whimsy thrown in for good measure.  "Portrait Society" could have appeared on the Inside Out: Athens, GA soundtrack.  "Lost Wind Craze" is Wilco meets Neil Young, while "Henrietta" comes off as a country-fried "My Sharona". 

"Around That Long" evokes the movie "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" with its depiction of small town life, and the general waiting for something good to happen ennui that can come with it.  "Money for Old Rope" mixes the DIY-punk attitude of old Elvis Costello and Boomtown Rats songs.

"Going Away" is a Dylanesque parody of a familiar military ad, while "Ode to Bobbie" recalls the author of "Ode to Billie Joe", replete with ELO-style harmonic choruses.  

Did you get all of that?  The Payola Reserve does whatever they darn well please.  And in you don't like one song, the odds are fairly good you'll like the next.

Brian A. Smith
23 April 2008