Hoarse

Hoarse

Boarding the same hay wagon to hell that's transported murder balladeers from Grayson & Whitter to Nick Cave, Nazarene preacher's grandson David Eugene Edwards has been channeling his religious upbringing into the "gothabilly" glory that is 16 Horsepower since 1993. This live collection--culled from three 1998 performances--cherry picks from the Denver band's first two albums for such fire-and-brimstone favorites as "Black Soul Choir," "For Heaven's Sake," and "Brimstone Rock." Edwards's haunted tenor may sound more polished in the studio, but the intensity of his live performance--coupled with suitably swampy covers of Creedence, Gun Club, and Joy Division songs--makes this a must for established fans and any newcomers who need convincing that concertinas and banjos can be just as creepy as their electrified cousins. <I>--Bill Forman</I>