Buck 65 - 'Talkin' Honky Blues' (Metal Forensics) Released 08/09/03

Imagine being a being a Hillbilly trying to live a simple existence in a technically complicated world, where hip hop has its fat ass firmly on the throne, and red-neck trucker types are definitely not cool…(well, maybe in an ironic sense in certain areas of London).

This is the basic idea behind 'Talkin' Honky Blues'. If your Familiar with some of Buck 65's earlier work - you'd probably agree that this record is a significant turning point or new beginning. For a start it's more sophisticated in terms of production, and the musical influences subtly hinted at on previous records, are pushed right to the forefront. Buck 65- aka Rich Tefry, had written and produced a lot of his previous work in his bedroom, but with this new album it's easy to tell that most (if not all) was done in a decent recording studio.

Despite Paris being the main influence on this album, he's still haunting his usual points of reference - Tom Waits, Jack Kerouac, Charles Bukoski, and with further inspiration coming a collection of Anais Nin short stories called 'Under the Glass Bell'. 'Talkin Honky Blues' is an album that doesn't hide under irony. It's bold, perfected, seasoned to perfection, and will kick you up the arse with a snake skin boot in time to a hip-hop beat…Yeehaaa.