There's just nothing to dislike about roots rockers The Band of Heathens - dead sturdy, salt o' the earth songwriting delivered with strong, clear voices, lively picking and jubilant spirit. If early Jayhawks or Steve Earle knocks your dick in the dirt then you're gonna love you some Heathens, the winners of the 2007 “Best New Band of the Year" at the Austin Music Awards. And kids, if they like 'em in Austin - a town with more musicians than cockroaches - then you know there's giddy-up in these shitkickers, who remind one of The Eagles' first couple albums, which is a much bigger compliment than many youngsters may take it to be.
Built around a core trio of singer-songwriters - Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist and Colin Brooks - the Heathens seethe with front porch charm, offering up tales of second lines, girls from Manitoba and earthy cornbread making, each tune full of nice details snatched by their writerly eyes. Cleanly produced by Texas elder statesman Ray Wylie Hubbard and bolstered by harmony vocals from Patty Griffin on a few cuts, their self-titled studio debut is plain ol' quality stuff. If this were 1975 they'd be on the top of both the rock and country charts. Even if times have changed dramatically, it shouldn't be long before these Heathens are playing far beyond Midland and Lubbock.
