Released
1998

Label
Heiress Aesthetic

Reviewed by
Mike Ramirez

Contact
Cottonmouth, Texas

Visit
Cottonmouth, Texas


Last Edit/Update
23 June, 1999

Outhouse Confessional

Track Listing

1. Hoops (and a search for the truth)
2. Stripper
3. Three Dimes
4. Hoops (and a search for the truth-clean edit)

    This review is going to be a little difficult, due to the fact that it will be hard to describe the sound of Cottonmouth. I guess if you took Mick Harris from Scorn, got him extremely high with Leonard Cohen, chilled out with Jah Wobble, and then stopped over George Clinton's house for a jam session, you can get somewhat of an idea. If that didn't help you at all, then read on. Instead of singing the lyrics, vocalist/songwriter Jeff Liles prefers to tell stories, interesting stories that is (shooting hoops, cheating girlfriends, selling dope, dropping acid, fucking "shit" up, strippers, porn star Ron Jeremy). It would be more suitable to say that Liles just talks about everyday life, instead of singing about false emotions and happenings.
    "Hoops" opens the 4-song promo disc, going right into a bouncing basketball and the story of throwing up some nasty brick shots, followed by some average problems that every man has possibly faced sometime in their life. The next track, "Stripper," tells the truth about those who are in the profession. Everything from the trademark strip show track (Guns N' Roses' "Welcome To The Jungle) to the backstage locker let you in on a short story of a stripper who earns the extra cash, for the extra work that is.
    On top of the excellent storytelling, the music is the main element that shouldn't be overheard here. Excellent production allows some funky beats and tight musicianship to shine through to the listener. To help with a comparison, the music can be compared to the sounds of Jamiroquai, Beastie Boys, and Praxis, without emulating what they do. It's hard to concentrate on both the word and the music at the same time, because you don't want to miss out on anything. You'll probably find yourself listening to each track twice. Then, you can relax to the beat, and afterwards, crack up at the truth of the stories.
    "Three Dimes" opens up with the smoothest beat on the disc, wobbling bass, droned congas, and horn samples reminiscent to a Pharcyde track (a rap group for those who are uneducated in that field). Everything from getting three dimes to us the phone, to speaking with Ron Jeremy (vintage porno star) on the phone is heard on this track. I suggest you pick up the disc to hear the conclusion.
    If I had to choose one band who would garner the "underrated" award of the year, it would have to be Cottonmouth, Texas. Excellent musicianship like this shouldn't be ignored for much longer, and it's about time that this band received some recognition. This is highly recommended for any fan of dub music, as well as any fan of ambient music. I would mention the other substance that would attract listeners to Cottonmouth, Texas, but I'm sure the band's name already gave that away.     

Jeffery Liles