Paydirt is an album by the American band Dash Rip Rock, released in 1998.[3][4] It was the band's first album to be distributed by a major label.[5] Dash Rip Rock supported the album with a North American tour.[6]
| Paydirt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1998 | |||
| Genre | Cowpunk[1] | |||
| Label | PC Music[2] | |||
| Producer | Fred LeBlanc | |||
| Dash Rip Rock chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production edit
The album was produced by former member Fred LeBlanc, who also cowrote the songs.[7] Kyle Melancon took over on drums, replacing Chris Luckette.[3] It was the band's intention to make a more radio-friendly record; they had decided to pull back from national touring if Paydirt was not a success.[8] Some of the album's songs were already band live staples.[9]
The song "King Death" was written in tribute to Country Dick Montana.[10] Tab Benoit contributed guitar to "String You Up"; "Singin' the Blues" is a cover of the Marty Robbins song.[11][12]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Austin Chronicle | [13] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [14] |
| The Tampa Tribune | [15] |
| The Times-Picayune | [16] |
The Washington Post called the album "a Dixie-fried, swamp-soaked version of NRBQ."[7] OffBeat wrote that the band "has largely abandoned the hard rock, punkabilly and song parodies of recent years in favor of a triumphant return to their countrified pop roots."[17]
The Los Angeles Times wrote: "With Paydirt, this notoriously rowdy and raucous trio counterbalances its own typical tendencies by tempering the raunch with brisk smart-pop offerings and even some serious, wistful and lovely jangle-rock numbers far more redolent of R.E.M.'s sober Athens, Ga., classicism than the whiskey-drenched roadhouse mayhem Dash has been bootlegging out of New Orleans for nearly 15 years."[14] The Times-Picayune deemed the album "a collection of mostly mid-tempo, crisp guitar pop."[16]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "King Death" | 2:12 |
| 2. | "She's Got a Lot Of" | 2:00 |
| 3. | "String You Up" | 3:22 |
| 4. | "Drivin' Feelin'" | 3:17 |
| 5. | "Singin' the Blues" | 2:38 |
| 6. | "Best Reason" | 2:44 |
| 7. | "Clown Down" | 3:08 |
| 8. | "Markers Down" | 3:14 |
| 9. | "False Prophet" | 2:47 |
| 10. | "Think of Me" | 2:57 |
| 11. | "Call Me" | 3:00 |
| 12. | "Anchor Me" | 2:50 |
| 13. | "Fly to the Gulf" | 4:44 |
| 14. | "Bonus" | 5:30 |
Personnel edit
- Bill Davis - guitar, vocals
- Hoaky Hickel - bass
- Kyle Melancon - drums
References edit
- ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Paydirt". AllMusic. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ "From pot to paydirt". Orlando Weekly.
- ^ a b "Dash Rip Rock Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Ray, Yolonda (3 Dec 1998). "Lack of unity hampers Dash Rip Rock's latest". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 16F.
- ^ Wirt, John (July 24, 1998). "Dash Rip Rock about to strike pay dirt". Fun. The Advocate. p. 8.
- ^ "In the Clubs". Leisure. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 31 Jan 1998. p. 30.
- ^ a b "Dash Rip Rock: 'Paydirt'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ Guarino, Mark (28 Aug 1998). "For southern bands, the road goes on forever". Time Out. Daily Herald. p. 4.
- ^ Moon, Troy (18 Jun 1998). "Dash Rip to perform in free concert". Pensacola News Journal. p. B1.
- ^ Masley, Ed (11 Dec 1998). "Dash of Punk: Rip Rockers Learn to Play It Fast". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 28.
- ^ "Local club is place to dash for Rip Rock". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. October 30, 1998. p. W2.
- ^ DeMarco, Jerry (September 11, 1998). "Don't Worry, Be Wacky – and Endorsed by Jerry Lee". Lifestyle. The Record. p. 31.
- ^ "Record Reviews". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ a b Boehm, Mike (12 Oct 1998). "CD Review: Temperance Amid the Usual Raunch". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
- ^ Walker, Kevin (August 14, 1998). "Dash Rip Rock, Pay Dirt". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 17.
- ^ a b Spera, Keith (July 17, 1998). "Summer's Spin List". The Times-Picayune. p. L20.
- ^ Miester, Mark. "Dash Rip Rock, Pay Dirt". OffBeat.