Paydirt is an album by the American band Dash Rip Rock, released in 1998.[3][4] It was the band's first album to be distributed by a major label.[5] Dash Rip Rock supported the album with a North American tour.[6]

Paydirt
Studio album by
Released1998
GenreCowpunk[1]
LabelPC Music[2]
ProducerFred LeBlanc
Dash Rip Rock chronology
Dash Rip Rock's Gold Record
(1996)
Paydirt
(1998)
Sonic Boom
(2002)

Production

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The album was produced by former member Fred LeBlanc, who also cowrote the songs.[7] Kyle Melancon took over on drums, replacing Chris Luckette.[3] It was the band's intention to make a more radio-friendly record; they had decided to pull back from national touring if Paydirt was not a success.[8] Some of the album's songs were already band live staples.[9]

The song "King Death" was written in tribute to Country Dick Montana.[10] Tab Benoit contributed guitar to "String You Up"; "Singin' the Blues" is a cover of the Marty Robbins song.[11][12]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
The Austin Chronicle     [13]
Los Angeles Times    [14]
The Tampa Tribune    [15]
The Times-Picayune     [16]

The Washington Post called the album "a Dixie-fried, swamp-soaked version of NRBQ."[7] OffBeat wrote that the band "has largely abandoned the hard rock, punkabilly and song parodies of recent years in favor of a triumphant return to their countrified pop roots."[17]

The Los Angeles Times wrote: "With Paydirt, this notoriously rowdy and raucous trio counterbalances its own typical tendencies by tempering the raunch with brisk smart-pop offerings and even some serious, wistful and lovely jangle-rock numbers far more redolent of R.E.M.'s sober Athens, Ga., classicism than the whiskey-drenched roadhouse mayhem Dash has been bootlegging out of New Orleans for nearly 15 years."[14] The Times-Picayune deemed the album "a collection of mostly mid-tempo, crisp guitar pop."[16]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."King Death"2:12
2."She's Got a Lot Of"2:00
3."String You Up"3:22
4."Drivin' Feelin'"3:17
5."Singin' the Blues"2:38
6."Best Reason"2:44
7."Clown Down"3:08
8."Markers Down"3:14
9."False Prophet"2:47
10."Think of Me"2:57
11."Call Me"3:00
12."Anchor Me"2:50
13."Fly to the Gulf"4:44
14."Bonus"5:30

Personnel

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  • Bill Davis - guitar, vocals
  • Hoaky Hickel - bass
  • Kyle Melancon - drums

References

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  1. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Paydirt". AllMusic. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "From pot to paydirt". Orlando Weekly.
  3. ^ a b "Dash Rip Rock Biography & History". AllMusic.
  4. ^ Ray, Yolonda (3 Dec 1998). "Lack of unity hampers Dash Rip Rock's latest". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 16F.
  5. ^ Wirt, John (July 24, 1998). "Dash Rip Rock about to strike pay dirt". Fun. The Advocate. p. 8.
  6. ^ "In the Clubs". Leisure. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 31 Jan 1998. p. 30.
  7. ^ a b "Dash Rip Rock: 'Paydirt'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  8. ^ Guarino, Mark (28 Aug 1998). "For southern bands, the road goes on forever". Time Out. Daily Herald. p. 4.
  9. ^ Moon, Troy (18 Jun 1998). "Dash Rip to perform in free concert". Pensacola News Journal. p. B1.
  10. ^ Masley, Ed (11 Dec 1998). "Dash of Punk: Rip Rockers Learn to Play It Fast". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 28.
  11. ^ "Local club is place to dash for Rip Rock". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. October 30, 1998. p. W2.
  12. ^ DeMarco, Jerry (September 11, 1998). "Don't Worry, Be Wacky – and Endorsed by Jerry Lee". Lifestyle. The Record. p. 31.
  13. ^ "Record Reviews". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  14. ^ a b Boehm, Mike (12 Oct 1998). "CD Review: Temperance Amid the Usual Raunch". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  15. ^ Walker, Kevin (August 14, 1998). "Dash Rip Rock, Pay Dirt". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 17.
  16. ^ a b Spera, Keith (July 17, 1998). "Summer's Spin List". The Times-Picayune. p. L20.
  17. ^ Miester, Mark. "Dash Rip Rock, Pay Dirt". OffBeat.