The Reverend Horton Heat

Holy Roller (Sub Pop)
by Scott Hefflon

Over 70 minutes long, with 24 faves and a few unreleased/rare tracks (“Where the Hell Did You Go with My Toothbrush?,” “Bath-Water Blues,” and a cover of “Folsom Prison Blues”), Holy Roller is a must for die-hard Reverend Horton Heat fans, and an easy way to jumpstart yer faith in the healing powers of psychobilly. It combines the humor, the foot-to-the-floor energy, and the whiskey-soaked Texan bluesy ballads that make the good Reverend the best of the best.

Opening and closing with instrumentals (“Big Sky” and a stumbling cover of “The Entertainer”), Holy Roller is a best-of perfect for a roadtrip or a night of debauchery. Wind it up! Hits assembled: “Baddest of the Bad,” “Wiggle Stick,” “Big Red Rocket of Love,” “Bales of Cocaine,” “Lie Detector,” “400 Bucks,” “Marijuana,” “It’s Martini Time,” “Baby I’m Drunk,” “Bad Reputation,” “One Time for Me,” “Now, Right Now,” “Slow,” “Love Whip,” “Jimbo Song,” “Big Little Baby,” “Cowboy Love,” “In Your Wildest Dreams,” and “Eat Steak.” And while “Loaded Gun” is omitted (the exact sound of staggering around so dangerously drunk and depressed, it’s almost eerie), Holy Roller has almost all the greats, with notes as to which album their from, just in case you wanna follow up. And you should.
(1932 1st Ave. #1103 Seattle, WA 98101)