Nine Pound Hammer
Kentucky Breakdown (Acetate)
by Brian Varney
It’s been a handful of years since Nine Pound Hammer recorded and, frankly, considering the relative success Blaine Cartwright’s subsequent band Nashville Pussy has received, this is one reunion I didn’t count on seeing. I always enjoyed Nine Pound Hammer’s brand of down-home punk rock back in the day, but I never much cared for Nashville Pussy, which is only one more reason why I wasn’t expecting much from Kentucky Breakdown.
No matter. We’re here to discuss Nine Pound Hammer, and I can’t recommend Kentucky Breakdown highly enough to anymore who enjoyed the funny, sharply-drawn portraits of country life on the band’s previous three releases. “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody,” “Don’t Remember Lovin’ You Last Night,” “Zebra Lounge”… these songs are the work of someone who knows his world very well and is able to poke fun without considering himself above such behavior. And it doesn’t hurt that the band totally blazes, boogie rock guitar licks screaming along atop a raging punk rock attack. Nice Ozark Mountain Daredevils cover, too.
(www.acetate.com)