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Jason & The Scorchers

From page 71 of Classic Rock Magazine January 1999

Cover of January 1999 issue.

'Midnight Roads & Stages Seen

(Mammoth 557 623-21

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Until Nashville's Jason &The Scorchers erupted with their blues/ country/punk 'n' roll-a-rama, the early '80s was a sad place to be. Kiss adopted a pantomime dame image, Metallica and Anthrax were embryonic metal toe-dippers, Motley Crile spearheaded the most embarrassing fashion crime in music history (glam metal), hair was big, Def Leppard were bigger and, the Ramones... er, just were! In the late '90s, Jason &The Scorchers are still as unrivalled as they are underrated, and 'Midnight Roads...' is not only testimony that this is the best album reviewed in this magazine and is therefore essential but also contains some of the greatest songs of the last two decades.'Broken Whiskey Glass' still induces heartache and joy,'Help! There's A Fire'judders, jumps and jives,'Somewhere Within' is melancholia in a bottle and 'White Lies' remains the classic rock 'n' roller today that it should have been yesterday.

Guitar god Warner E Hodges charges at the rocky numbers like rhinos on Viagra, but maintains a rare subtlety on the softer songs, much like drum and harmony meister Perry Baggs, who writes, sings, plays guitar and generally behaves unlike a drummer really should. But it's master of ceremonies and wordsmith Jason Ringenberg who commands full attention throughout this 23-song live workout.A voice as sweet as moonshine and a God-given right to make you want to laugh or cry at the drop of a cowboy hat.They sing three-part harmonies, they're great guys and they fucking rock. The only reason that you will not buy this is because you just don't deserve it!

Ginger Wildheart