Fear and Whiskey
by Mekons
- Type: Album
- Released: June 1985
- Label: Sin
- Country: United Kingdom
- Length: 35:17
- Community rating: 3.68/5 from 6 ratings
Artists on this release: Lu Edmonds, Susie Honeyman, Dick Taylor, Tommy Greene, Steve Goulding, Jon Langford, Ken Lite
Album Notes & Community Reviews
Following a brief hiatus, the Mekons radically pivoted from English post-punk into a shambolic, alcohol-fueled exploration of American country music. 'Fear and Whiskey' utilizes fiddles and twangy guitars to score anxious, highly political narratives concerning the 1984 miners' strike and bleak existential dread. It is a defining, incredibly raw masterpiece that effectively pioneered the British cowpunk and alt-country movements.
Genres
Descriptors: melodic, desert, alcohol, conceptual, political, existential, folk, traditional, acoustic, storytelling, lo-fi, guitars, rhythmic
Tracklist
- Chivalry (4:03)
- Trouble Down South (4:15)
- Hard to Be Human Again (3:58)
- Darkness and Doubt (5:15)
- Psycho Cupid - Danceband On the Edge of Time (2:52)
- Flitcraft (3:23)
- Country (2:54)
- Abernant 1984/5 (2:21)
- Last Dance (3:13)
- Lost Highway (2:59)
Credits
- The Mekons - primary artist, producer, written-by
- Jim Chapman - administrator [administration]
- Lu Edmonds - bass
- Steve Goulding - drums
- John Gill - engineer, other [historical advisor]
- Susie Honeyman - fiddle
- Graeme Durham - lacquer cut by
- Dick Taylor - lead guitar
- Shelagh Quinn - narrator [narration]
- Tony Bonner - recorded by
- Ken Lite - rhythm guitar, vocals
- Sophie Bourbon - sleeve, sleeve notes
- Tommy Greene - vocals, guitar, piano
- Jon Langford - vocals, harp, guitar
- Dolf Planteijdt - guest [guest appearances]
- Jacqui Callis - guest [guest appearances]
- Ralph Mulcahy - guest [guest appearances]
- Sabien Witteman - guest [guest appearances]
- Terry Nelson - guest [guest appearances]
- Leon Payne - written-by [uncredited]