Comedy tunes are a hit and miss affair. More miss than hit in my experience.
The ones on this album work pretty well though since Brad Creel is a genial host who is taking a wry approach to standard country music themes of emotional turmoil and heavy drinking.
Creel is clearly the kind of guy who would much rather laugh about his bitter experiences than cry into his beer.
His laissez-faire philosophy is summed up in the title track in which he declares a preference for idling and daydreaming rather than giving in to the temptations offered by glamorous parties, top jobs or hot women. The level of the humour is such that this features Benny Hill type lines such as "she asked me to come over and help her move her chest".
As well as the four man backing band that make up The Reel Deel, Creel calls on other music buddies including Chris Funk of The Decembrists on dobro.
The record was produced by Shay S. Scott and recorded on vintage gear at Klickitat Band Camp to get that right honky tonk feel.
Creel's voice has the dry, resigned quality similar to that of David Lowery (Cracker / Camper Van Beethoven) and the heartache that lies beneath the devil-may-care exterior suggests that the songs should not be dismissed as superficial throwaway numbers.
For instance, the subject matter of 3 Women and 15 Breakups is treated lightly although anyone who has been there will know this is no laughing matter in reality. The song catalogues all the ways of being dumped (or doing the dumping) ranging from the serious e.g. religious differences and expensive therapy sessions, to the trivial e.g. not remembering to put down the toilet seat!
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Empty Pages is a neat tale of a song writer who can only write hit songs while entrenched in a stormy relationship: "first you broke my leg then I broke the top ten" while Life Starts At Forty documents the dubious pleasures of ageing where viagra and green tea take the place of other stimulants
Backing vocals on eight of the thirteen tracks comes from Juliet Howard to give a welcome female perspective, particularly on When He's Not Home where she sounds a little like Chan Marshall (Cat Power).
The album is well paced so that upbeat rockin' country tunes rub shoulders with a smattering of less manic tracks like When The Morning Comes , a tender "I'll be here for you" piano ballad or Fireproof Heart, a 'won't get burned again' love song.
Creel has coined the term 'lava lamp country' to describe his contribution to what is apparently a burgeoning country music scene in downtown Portland, Oregon.
The songs on this album have a rough and ready novelty appeal although they are tailored more to be played live than to stand up to repeated listening at home.
Brad Creel's website
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