Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags
All the Great Aviators Agree
Monkey Barr Music/In Music We Trust
According to Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags on the track “Dirty Old Waltz,” “No one drinks like a pilot/ No one flies like a drunk/ All the great aviators agree.” After listening to their album, All the Great Aviators Agree, I’d say that is an autobiographical statement – except they are drunk musicians, not pilots. Scotland Barr’s voice sounds like it has had its share of whiskey and his lyrics sound like he’s been knocked around a little. But what else do you expect from a roots/rock sextet that sounds like a combination of the Jayhawks and Old ’97s?
“She’s Happy” looks like it should be a fairly upbeat song. It is musically, but the lyrics tell an entirely different story. “I haven’t seen you smile in a long, long while/ I really, really hate to say/ She’s happy/ But she’s not happy with me.”
They seamlessly go from that to almost straight radio-pop on “Heart of Rome” to the piano ballad “Come to Bed,” to the alcohol-infused rockabilly of “The Burden,” where Barr sings “Ring that bell, let’s all go to hell/ Keep one full bottle before me/ Tomorrow is the day I’ll change me wicked ways/…/ I’ll pour out the whiskey in the morning.” Those three songs are just a snapshot of how diverse and talented this group is.
All the Great Aviators Agree is a classic roots/rock record full of undeniably catchy songs, alcohol, and heartbreak. Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags incorporate harmonies, keyboards, and Barr’s achingly raspy voice to make a record that is a must listen.
Scotland Barr: http://www.scotlandbarr.com
