Pucker Up Buttercup is an album by the American musician Paul Jones, released in 1999.[1][2] Jones supported the album by touring with T-Model Ford and other Fat Possum musicians.[3]
| Pucker Up Buttercup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1999 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Length | 35:02 | |||
| Label | Fat Possum | |||
| Producer | Matthew Johnson, Bruce Watson | |||
| Paul Jones chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editJones had gone back to welding and construction jobs after the release of his debut album, and was encouraged to play again by Ford.[4] The album was coproduced by label head Matthew Johnson.[5] Jones decided to drop his nickname, "Wine", for the release.[6] He was backed by his drummer, Pickle.[7] Jones preferred cheap amplifiers and made use of heavy distortion.[8][9] "Lead Me On" is a version of a traditional spiritual.[10]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| The Commercial Appeal | [12] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings |  [5] |
| Winnipeg Sun | [7] |
The Commercial Appeal opined that "the Fat Possum roster is hip enough without being post-modern poster children for Jon Spencer fans... Still, Jones has some standout if quizzical moments, especially the acoustic jiggle of 'Hard Way to Go' and a voice-and-drums only version of the hymn 'Lead Me On'."[12] The Chicago Tribune noted that some tracks "have the intuitive sophistication of [Muddy] Waters' greatest bands: On 'Goin' Back Home', Jones wraps his rusty-razor riffs around a bass line as smooth and fast as the greatest garage rock."[13]
The Tallahassee Democrat called the album "juke-joint downhome blues ... so real and raw it could raise blisters on your eardrums."[14] The Albuquerque Journal said that "Jones' voice has a deep molasses richness to it that cuts much deeper than most of his peers."[15] The New Times Broward-Palm Beach deemed it "a ragged masterpiece, a rural barnburner that rocks with wicked ferocity".[16] The Lexington Herald-Leader wrote that Jones "has designed one of the most jagged country-blues sounds imaginable."[17] Tucson Weekly included Pucker Up Buttercup on its list of the best albums of 1999.[18]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Roll That Woman" | 3:02 |
| 2. | "Goin' Back Home" | 2:29 |
| 3. | "Pucker Up Buttercup" | 3:53 |
| 4. | "Hangin' with the Boys" | 4:13 |
| 5. | "Lead Me On" | 2:20 |
| 6. | "Don't Laugh at Me" | 4:32 |
| 7. | "I'm Gonna Leave" | 2:28 |
| 8. | "Dee Dee Dee" | 3:16 |
| 9. | "Hard Way to Go" | 2:58 |
| 10. | "Instrumental #99" | 1:44 |
| 11. | "Further On Up the Road" | 2:32 |
| 12. | "Guess I Just Fucked It All Up" | 1:35 |
| Total length: | 35:02 | |
References
edit- ^ Berkovitch, Ellen (May 26, 2000). "Label Still Has Old-Time Mississippi Blues". The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. P48.
- ^ Russell, Tony (October 14, 2005). "Obituary: Paul 'Wine' Jones : Blues musician loyal to Mississippi". The Guardian. p. 37.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (January 7, 2000). "Acts to Watch For in the Coming Week". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.
- ^ "Paul Jones, Monday at Velvet Elvis with T-Model Ford". Savannah Morning News. January 14, 2000. p. 8D.
- ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 337.
- ^ Durchholz, Daniel (August 23, 2000). "True Blues". Music. Riverfront Times.
- ^ a b Sterdan, Darryl (September 10, 1999). "Discs". Entertainment. Winnipeg Sun. p. 45.
- ^ Musser, Jim (August 31, 2000). "Mississippi's burning on Fat Possum's caravan". Iowa City Press-Citizen. p. 2D.
- ^ "Scoring the Clubs". LA Weekly. August 6, 1999. p. 146.
- ^ Botchick, Cheryl (August 1999). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 72. p. 46.
- ^ "Pucker Up Buttercup Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Ellis, Bill (September 4, 1999). "Red Hot in Memphis". The Commercial Appeal. p. F3.
- ^ Knopper, Steve (October 17, 1999). "Paul Jones Pucker Up Buttercup". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 14.
- ^ Schardl, Kati (January 7, 2000). "Blues Dementia". Tallahassee Democrat. p. F12.
- ^ Koster, Michael (May 26, 2000). "Caravan to Bring Blues, Characters to SF". Albuquerque Journal. p. 2.
- ^ Floyd, John (August 26, 1999). "Paul Jones Pucker up Buttercup". Short Cuts. New Times Broward-Palm Beach.
- ^ Tunis, Walter (September 8, 2000). "The Mississippi Juke Joint Caravan IV". Weekender. Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 4.
- ^ Bally, Ron (December 30, 1999). "Phono Op". Music. Tucson Weekly.