COUNTRY STANDARD TIME
REVIEW OF OUTBACK COUNTRY VAMPIRE
November 2001- by Andy Turner

Jabe Beyer's songs on his band's second effort are silly, dark, sad, funny, spooky, hell-raising, fascinating and always interesting.

Beyer and his Boston buddies play a sort of raucous bluegrass cowpunk that is powered by a train beat along the lines of the Old 97's. In fact, the liner notes deem Stupid Boy, a "total Old 97's rip-off" which it is sort of, but there is a lot worse things a band could do. "Checkout Girl" is a sweet ode to salvation in a supermarket that has lines like "There's a frenzy in the marketplace/Someone ran off with the scale" and concludes with a triumphant "But I'll meet her at the bar tonight, I will/I'll just sit on my stool and twirl/Just me and the Checkout Girl." "Danglin' From a Broken Star" is a terrific ballad that would be the perfect "Coulpes Only"song at your favorite alt-country skating rink.

Other highlights include the bluesy hillbilly boogie of "Forever is a Long Time" and the spastic bluegrass of "Let in the Blue" and "Rocky Times Come N' Go." Terrific songwriting and playing, full of fun and feeling.

-Andy Turner