The Hippy Nuts are a throwback to a golden era wherein substance was more important than style in pop music. Not to say that the gritty Nuts lack the latter. This veteran New York City-based collective, helmed by sassy Texas transplant Kathena Bryant (vocals/harmonica) and guitar slinging Seattle bred ex-patriot Tim Champion (also the producer/engineer) somehow get overlooked in the hip, flavor-of-the-moment disposition of their geographic environs. Yet their sophomore effort is hands down the best urban roots rock album to come down the pike in a long, long time. Drop the needle (metaphorically speaking) on track one side two and be prepared to be blown away by “Pouring Out My So” - a cinematic anthem which embraces soul and country akin to the best Muscle Shoals had to offer. “Watch Your Language” and “Lay It Down” capture the restless Americana spirit of Steve Earle’s Guitar Town or Lucinda Williams’ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road by way of a funky swamp groove that percolates slightly behind the beat. Too bad Steve Marriott isn’t around to enjoy the Nuts’ loving remake of “Thirty Days In The Hole” - he’d probably repay the favor with a ballsy reading of the Nuts’ druggy dirge “Lay It Down,” which closes Tales on a satisfying yet ominous note. You can’t always get what you want, but sometimes, you get what you need.
--Tom Semioli
