Odd Gold Boys

Overall Album Score: 9.4 out of 10

Well! Not only does Randy Newman's fourth studio album have his signature brand of sincerity injected in every single one of these songs, but the tunes and instrumentation are by and large better! ... Whoah!!!! That pretty much makes Good Old Boys the best album that Newman had created up until this point! Cool!

There is even a big theme to this album! It's sortuva critical look at the South and the rampant racism that was going on down there. ... And Newman even insults rednecks in a song properly entitled "Rednecks." Believe me, anyone who insults rednecks are AWESOME in my book! (And, contrary to popular opinion, I am *not* a redneck, even though I vote Republican. ... I don't even live in the South. So shut up!)

"Rednecks" is my favorite song from this album for obvious reasons. Rednecks = makes fun of rednecks + sincerity + BASS GUITAR = Cool Song!

Every single other song on the album is good as well. Some are better than others, of course, but only ONE song didn't receive a 9.0 or more. That's how awesome these songs are. ... Tremendously wonderful songs, man!

If you're going to get a Randy Newman album, I would heartily recommend this one. This one, in particular, is worth your time and hard-earned redneck bucks (if you're not going to spend it on beers or used undershirts).

Overall Album Score: 9.4 out of 10 (I never enjoyed a Randy Newman album as much as I enjoyed Good Old Boys. All of his albums were enjoyable, but this one is ENJOYABLE.)

Average Song Score: 9.3 (***GOOD*** songs!!!!!!!)

Album Tilt: 9.5 (I really like this album. Not only are these some of Newman's most finest melodies and arrangements, the overall album has an edgy theme to it. That makes the album even that much more interesting.)

Artist Rating: 9.5 (I say, great work on this album! Your songs are stronger and it even seems to have a grand purpose ... yet it never once seems over-pretentious.)

Track Reviews

Rednecks 10/10

What's this that I doth hear? A BASS GUITAR???!???!???? ... This is still very much one of Randy Newman's ragtime/country/oldetyme inspired songs, but ... there's a BASS GUITAR! Oh, just listen to this song and soak in the holy vibe of the bass guitar! ... Heck! This is quite possibly even a ROCK song! Rock is *good*, Randy. You hardly ever do it, but whenever you do, it's GOOD. No more straight old, sentimental old, old old stuff for me, man. ROCK is GOOD. (Oh, and I'm totally ignoring the lyrics. Who in their right mind would pay attention to lyrics when there's a BASS GUITAR to pay attention to? But, I do agree with Randy. Rednecks suck.)

Birmingham 9.5/10

Okay. The bass guitar receded back into the coffin that it came from. And now we're back to one of those good old, old old, olde tyme Randy Newman ragtime inspired tunes. Of course, Randy is still charming when he's writing old songs! The slide guitars (surprisingly) were just the perfect touch.

Marie 9/10

Very slow and NO BASS GUITAR IN SIGHT!!!! Really! ... At any rate, this song is MIGHTILY sentimental sounding ... just like good old Randy Newman is hailed for doing. We all like Randy Newman and his sentimental old-dude style of stuff. The orchestration was utterly luverly, too.

Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man) 9.5/10

BASS GUITARRRRRRRRRR!!!!! ... Oh wait. Even though this has a bass guitar, it's not quite the AWESOME bass guitar that was on "Rednecks." This, here, is COUNTRY-MUSIC bass guitar, which is TOO HOKEY TO BE AWESOME! ... But the bass guitar is always nice. And this is a good song. I like the melody a lot and the arranging is among Newman's best, even though the bass is too hokey. Blroneingro! TRY AGAIN!

Guilty 9/10

Wait a minute. Why didn't anyone tell me before that Randy Newman was so awesome? He used to bore me at least ONCE in an album. But not here. These songs not only have his signature genuine flavor, but these are some very excellently written melodies and compositions EVER by him. How cooooool. This song is also AWESOME.

Louisiana 1927 9.5/10

There might not be bass guitar on here (that's worth mentioning), but this is still a very nice song! (And there's drums!) And the string section is nice... and I like the piano (as always) ...... AND MAN! THIS SONG IS MOOOOOOVINGGGGGGGG!!!!! Everybody! Loves! Louisiana! 1927!

Every Man a King 9/10

Randy Newman covers an old-time RAGTIME tune(time). Even though the song is OLD and the only people who remember when the original song came out are probably old or dead. ... But I can't deny that it isn't a good song. It doesn't even seem that out of place.

Kingfish 9.5/10

Interesting orchestration highlights the introduction of this song ... and then it turns into a regular old piano-led Randy Newman ditty. WITH BASS GUITAR!!!!!! ... The bass isn't nearly as awesome as it was on "Rednecks." ...... Everything's going to pale to "Rednecks" now, isn't it? ..... Nevertheless, this remains an utterly solid Randy Newman ditty. COOOL!

Naked Man 9/10

QUIRKY INSTRUMENTATION! There might not be awesome bass on here ... but those crazy instruments he uses here makes this song more awesome than it would have been otherwise. RANDY NnnnEWMAN IS AWESOMEEEE!

A Wedding in Cherokee County 8.5/10

Hmmmm... I was kinda hoping to go through this album and never give out a song score anything less than a 9.0. Unfortunately, this song isn't quite as enjoyable as the previous songs ... but it's still a good tune. And Newman sounds as sincere as he ever did. This is another good song!

Back on My Feet Again 9.5/10

Bass guitar? ... Ooooh! And it's kinduvan awesome bass guitar too! ... And there's even some well-placed slide guitar in here, too. And the country-esque chorus is very fun (even though I HATES COUNTRY-WESTERN) ... Randy Newman's Americana is great, though. Toby Keith's Americana is like turds in a cowboy hat.

Rollin' 9.5/10

It's a light and sentimental tune that closes the album ... not anything AWESOME WITH A BASS GUITAR or ANYTHING. Although, I certainly won't deny that this song is anything but quaint and sweet sounding ... and the melody and arranging are utterly top-notch. ... Randy Newman is pretty much my hero now.

Old boys send me your comments here!

You do understand that Randy Newman's "Rednecks" is more of a savage attack on people like you, right? It's his satire on people who lump all Southerners together as "rednecks" and decry their racism, when institutional racism is just as significantly strong in the North and West. I'm sure you don't care, but just figured I'd clue you in.