Mark Stuart's raspy vocals drive these songs home. It's caustic tone pays tribute to the lyrics of these heartbroken and wandering anthems. "Wind It Up" is perhaps the best driving song I have heard in a long time. This is the kind of song that makes you want to hop in your car, put the top down, and hit the highway. On the other hand, while I liked the song, "Beautiful Cage," the reverberating modem sound in the background gets quite annoying. But, my favorite song on this album is "Where I Found You." I am not usually a fan of love songs, but this is the best one I have heard in a long time. It has no frills. It is just an honest, beautiful, simple song and that is what makes it so endearing.

This album seems to suggest a new strain of music, because it does not easily slide into any given category. If this is the direction music is heading, maybe the musical dark ages are finally coming to an end.

The genius of this CD is its simplicity. It is raw, powerful, and ballsy. Buy it!


good tunes   August 12, 2005
blue moon of KY (philadelphia, PA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This cd is different than I thought it would be, but different in a good way. I had only heard them cover Cash songs but was pleasantly surprised with their own original sound. The lead vocals are different than the man in black but have that familiar deep tone. This cd has remained in my player since I got it and it is easy to listen to the entire thing straight through.


An Album Worthy of My Top Ten   September 7, 2002
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I just picked up this record and it is truly a great collection of country songs. From a real Americana/Country feel to a current Springsteen vibe the Bastards mix it up like most country artists are afraid to today. I would say they have branched out well past the country classification. Contemporary country artists could only aspire to be as bold as the Bastards. I can only imagine what is in store for us with their next record. It's nice to see artists that experience real growth between albums. These Bastards have set the bar damn high for all who follow them.


Distance Between is in My Top Ten of 2002   September 7, 2002
Jason Ziemianski (Los Angeles)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I just picked up this record and it is truly a great collection of country songs. From a real Americana/Country feel to a current Springsteen vibe the Bastards mix it up like most country artists are afraid to today. I would say they have branched out well past the country classification. Contemporary country artists could only aspire to be as bold as the Bastards. I can only imagine what is in store for us with their next record. It's nice to see artists that experience real growth between albums. These Bastards have set the bar damn high for all who follow them.


Pleasant Surprise   November 15, 2002
Jeremy C. Simms (Shepherdsville, KY United States)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I picked this album up on a recommendation of a friend. I was pleasantly surprised. They bleed well outside the genre of country into a wonderful gray area. The setting of the album must have contributed to the haunting tracks. If that piques your curiosity, buy it. Watch the videos on the enhanced CD.

Enjoy.