REVIEW: Sand Rubies, The Sidewinder Sessions (Contingency)
- Bill Holmes
The Sidewinders and The Sand Rubies are actually the same band, but after their first two albums (_Witchdoctor and Auntie Ramos' Pool Hall), The Sidewinders had the double insult of being unappreciated by their label AND losing their name to an obscure bar band from the East coast. But the nucleus of the band stayed intact, rechristened themselves The Sand Rubies, released another great album....and still remained a cult favorite at best.
Now, the band has reformed with the original members and has cut a new record set for June release. To summarize the past, and perhaps show the world what they almost threw away, the band has assembled their favorite cuts from the two Sidewinders releases (1988 and 1990) and added one new track under the name Sidewinders Sessions.
The band in any incarnation is centered on the fluid and dynamic guitar sounds of songwriter Rich Hopkins, whose textured work could only be compared to the inspired licks of Neil Young when he jams with Crazy Horse or the extended vibes of a Built To Spill record. The early songs are emotional passages; titles like "Doesn't Anyone Believe" and "What Am I Supposed To Do" should nail it for you. But in the hands of vocalist David Slutes, the vocals are the perfect match for the gut-wrenching guitar. Slutes croons, begs and howls like a fourth instrument, his interpretive skills as impressive as his vocal range. Hopkins and Slutes are one of those great pairs in rock and roll who make each other better.
Don't mistake this band as some carnal exercise, though - with better luck they could and should have been as popular as fellow desert mates The Gin Blossoms. "Sara's Not Sober" is a highly charged melodic rocker, and the lyrical "We Don't Do That Anymore" has a hook that is as strong as its appealing verse. The pleading "If I Can't Have You" would be as effective as a slow blues tune as it is here in its more Byrdsian mode. There's a lot of great bands being touted with handles like "Americana" and "No Depression", and you could vault these guys to the top rung of those lists as well.
The new record is exciting and shows that the band has not lost a step, but this document captures a magical era that somehow slipped through the cracks in most people's lives. If you appreciate songs that move you lyrically as well as stimulate you musically, you owe it to yourself to catch up with this band. To find out more about the Sidewinders/Sand Rubies legacy, or to get this CD if your local mom&pop doesn't have it, surf over to the Contingency web site at http://www.contingency.com and dive in. This is essential American music at its finest.
