The Neckbones

The Neckbones
Origin Oxford, Mississippi
Genres Garage punk
Years active 1994-2001
Labels Fat Possum Records
Past members David Boyer, Robbie Alexander, Tyler Keith, Forrest Hewes

The Neckbones were a garage punk band from Oxford, Mississippi. They released two albums: Souls on Fire (1997) and The Lights Are Getting Dim (1999), both on Fat Possum Records.

History

The band's members first began playing together as the Neckbones in the fall of 1994.[1] While the band was active, they were the only rock group signed to Fat Possum Records--the other bands on the label were all blues groups.[2] They recorded their debut album, Souls on Fire, in 1996, but it was not released until the following year due to Fat Possum Records' legal issues.[1] The band released its second and last album, The Lights are Getting Dim, in 1999, and disbanded in 2001.[3] Tyler Keith, the group's guitarist, subsequently formed the group "Tyler Keith and the Preacher's Kids", which released an album entitled "Romeo Hood" in 2001.[4]

Reception

Robert Christgau reviewed "Souls on Fire" and gave it an A-. In his review, Christgau compared the band's music favorably to that of Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments.[5] A review of the album for MTV described the album's music as "the greasy, ballsy kind of rock ‘n’ roll that most bands have either forgotten or abandoned."[6] Writing in Billboard, Chris Morris described the album as "a steaming slab of raving punk rock served up southern-fried".[7]

A review of The Lights are Getting Dim in CMJ compared the band's style to that of Iggy Pop and the Ramones, and praised the band's displays of humor on the album. However, the review also said that the album's music is "unlikely to win over fans looking for a more arcane musical experience."[8] Anthony Mariani wrote in Houston Press that the album was "stuffed with solid tunes".[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mariani, Anthony (14 October 1999). "Oxford Punks". Houston Press. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Jordan, Mark (16 August 1999). "Sticking Their Necks Out". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Howorth, Lisa (22 November 2011). "Issue 75: The Neckbones". Oxford American. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Daniels, Craig (1 May 2001). "Romeo Hood Review". Exclaim!. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "The Neckbones". Consumer Guide. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Nelson, Chris (29 July 1997). "ATN Album Review: The Neckbones’ Souls On Fire". MTV. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Morris, Chris (16 August 1997). "Neckbones Dish Up Southern-Fried Punk". Billboard. p. 53. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "The Lights are Getting Dim". CMJ. September 1999. p. 60. Retrieved 15 January 2015.