Oh Mr. Zombie, you’ve done it again. I guess that’s why Rob appropriately named his newest album “Hellbilly Deluxe” part deuce. BUT, for those of you who are expecting this album to be a sequel of the first Hellbilly, you will probably be disappointed. Back in November, I got a sneak peak of Zombie’s delayed production during his Hellbilly tour. Why such a long delay Rob? Although I must say the album was worth the extra three month wait, such a long delay was almost like burying the grave before putting in the coffin.
The album starts off with a very quiet introduction, “Jesus Frankenstein”, before heading off into fast paced rock workout with “Sick Bubblegum” and my personal favorite, “What?” These two songs alone are what makes most Zombie fans quiver: fun rock candy with lyrics unconventional enough to forgive the guilt of your living room prancing. You don’t listen to a good rock album, you have fun with it, and Mr. Zombie gives listeners several toys to choose from.
Although most of the album starts with a eulogy with occasional creepy commentary from Sheri Moon Zombie, there was one song that seemed to get back to the roots of Rob’s inspiration. As Mr. Zombie has repeatedly shown us with his cinema passions, he was certainly a child of the 70’s. This is rarely seen music-wise, but “Werewolf, Baby!” was much more Lynyrd Skynyrd – esk with old rock melodies. The chorus almost sounds like a rip-off of that one song, by those guys…. Hmmm… can’t quite recall, feel free to remind me.
Other favorites include “The Man Who Laughs” and “Werewolf Women of the SS”. The almost 10 minute trip of “The Man Who Laughs” features a delicious drum solo, and the racy cartoons that accompanied “Werewolf Women of the SS” on the last tour made the song memorable (John 5’s pelvic gyrations during this single were enough to get the front row pregnant). These certainly won’t be singles, but at least when they get played in the mainstream they won’t have to block out half the song like with “Sick Bubblegum”.
Despite the first impression of the band name, this album was a collaborative effort among many fine musicians. When interviewed by Rolling Stone back in Nov 2008, Zombie paid it forward, “I never liked being solo. I just did that because White Zombie became an unworkable situation. But you want to be in a band. The camaraderie is what’s fun about it. There’s nothing fun about a guy by himself in a studio.” Well said Rob, well said. The current lineup consists of Piggy D, Tommy C, and (be still my beating heart) John 5. I have never seen John as happy as he is onstage with Rob than with any other group of dead guys. If I could give even half the credit to John I totally would because whatever John touches turns to gold in my mind, but at least I have recognized my biased condition and I will be seeking help with your support of one dollar.
