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2/21/03:

Texas redeemed

A quick glance through the site of Kinky Freidman and one can't help marvel at the manically prolific output of this eccentric "Texas Jewboy" country singer (penning such irritatingly titled tunes as "I'm Proud to be an Asshole from El Paso" and "They Don't Make Jews like Jesus Anymore"); writer of "Jewish Texas Cowboy Mystery Novels" like Kill Two Birds and Get Stoned; conscientious entrepeneur of items like Politically Correct Salsa (whose proceeds go to the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch); and you'll have to scope his bio for much much much much much more.

[via nosenseofPlace]

Kinky's readers include George W Bush and Bill Clinton; he's readily namedropped by past collaborators like Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Iggy Pop; and another huge fan Billy Bob Thornton is thought by most to be the perfect star for a planned film about Kinky' life.

It's nice to be refreshed with reminders that a.) in this dark era of half-baked GW("Asshole From El Paso" )Bush doctrines, there's plenty of true coolness leftover in big, wierd Texas and b.) that there's still some brilliant country music eschewing sugary Nashville packaging for a romp back through country's stoned and rambling mad days of yore. For more of what I'm referring to, try a sampling of QDK Record's kitschily packaged but well-selected comp. Yee-Haw: The other side of country (an easy top 20 entry). And of course Lee Hazlewood's less-overdone albums like Requiem for an almost lady (though I can't vouch for authenticity) fit this aesthetic perfectly.

posted by jeremy @ 5:26 PM