It was only a matter of time before The Hickoids, the definition of Texas Cow Punk, put out a covers album features tunes exclusively penned by Lone Star Staters.
The mini-album “The Out of Towners” features half a dozen takes on songs by Willie Nelson, Roky Erickson, The Dicks, Terry Allen, Rich Minus and Doug Sahm. It’s also, sadly, the last record that Davy Jones (The Dicks, The Hickoids) played guitar on before dying of cancer.
In true Hickoids fashion, the songs here manage to be both beautiful and at times messy (not that you’d want it any other way). While all of these songs are keepers, the group’s raucous take on Nelson’s “Night Life” and the organ-drenched slow burn on “Cans” are particularly impressive. “The Out of Towners” serves as a beautiful and appropriate swan song for Jones.
Hickoids – The Out of Towners/6 tracks/Saustex/2016
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
Contact: editor@neufutur.com