Home / Arts and Entertainment / Mekons: 25 Years of Punk Cowboy Chaos
Mekons: 25 Years of Punk Cowboy Chaos
17 Sep
Summary
- Mekons celebrate 25 years with a new, raucous anniversary album.
- OOOH! features a mix of country, tribal rhythms, and rock 'n' roll.
- The album showcases vibrant vocal harmonies and diverse instrumentation.
The Mekons are celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2002 with the release of OOOH!, a new album marking a vibrant return to their roots. Recorded in Chicago, the album moves away from the mellow tone of their previous work, Journey to the End of the Night. OOOH! showcases a dynamic range, from gracefully shambling country to deep-beating tribal rhythms and pure rock 'n' roll. Susie Honeymoon's distinctive fiddle work, the roadhouse guitar stylings of Jon Langford and Tom Greenhalgh, and Steve Goulding's powerful drumming are all featured.
The album is notable for its rich vocal contributions, with Jon Langford and Mary Timms sharing lead vocals. They are joined by up to a dozen additional singers, including local artists Kelly Hogan and Edith Frost. These collaborations result in raucous singalongs and choir-like swells in the choruses, adding a significant layer to the album's sound. The eleven new songs, plus a rendition of the old-time ballad 'Lone Pilgrim,' explore themes ranging from the militant to the mystical.
