A review of "Holler!", the new album from Shane Speal and his Snake Oil Band

I can already hear it... “Oh, so Gitty’s reviewing the new Shane Speal album he bankrolled. I wonder if THAT review will be unbiased…”

Maybe it won’t be entirely unbiased, but I will try to be honest. I just couldn’t NOT review this album. So here goes.

I am a fan of Shane’s music and style. I have been for a while. When I was first getting into cigar box guitars 6 years ago, I bought a couple of Shane’s early records. Those early recordings were raw, rough and they were gritty. The production quality wasn’t all that high. The vocals weren’t always all that strong. The guitar playing was the strongest part of the whole thing, and even that could waver a bit.

Despite all of that, though, what jumped out at me was the passion behind the music, and the knowledge that this music was being made with instruments that were never really meant to exist. Here was a guy who was giving his life and career to the idea of the cigar box guitar, and the music that could be made with it. That resonated with me, and I became a fan.

Fast forward to 2014, and the release of the album I am attempting to review. Shane has spent the past few years tirelessly honing his craft, playing gig after gig in bars and dives, hosting open mics, and spending countless hours practicing and honing both his voice, his playing and his songwriting. He has also spent the last couple of years assembling one of the most unique bands operating in the field today – Shane Speal's Snake Oil Band. Comprised of a washtub bass, a washboard (with all the fixings) and a harmonica, these guys can really crank out a unique and powerful sound.

The result of these four guys going into the studio is an amazing collection of tracks, and an amazing album. It is GOOD. Really good. Possibly game-changing. The production value is awesome, the vocals are consistently strong, the guitar playing is blazing, the harmonica is on fire, and the washboard and bass lay down their unique clacking and thumping rhythm throughout.

From the first look at it, and the awesome cover art, the image of the snake oil salesman, the carnival barker, the sideshow act all crowd into your mind. And from the first track (the dark and murderous driving blues number “49 Years”), you’re off on a wild and crazy ride that takes you through slave field hollers, prison chants, clanking chains… it takes you from murder and revenge to bawdy love songs ("When she gets drunk, she gets horny..." to the good ole deep solid blues.

I don’t know if Shane has invented a new musical genre, with his modern jug band fusion sound – but it’s possible. It is definitely not quite like anything I have heard before. Shane has cranked his personal style and musical skills up to 10, he has surrounded himself with a unique and eclectic band, and he has created an awesome album that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone who asked – no caveats, no “Yes, buts”, no disclaimers. It is something great, and you need to own it.

Yes, I stand to make a profit if this album sells well – but I would be praising it just as highly even if I wasn’t, because this album is going to open peoples’ eyes in a whole new way to what cigar box guitars are, and can be.