Scott H. Biram’s “Nothin’ But Blood”
The fried chicken-eating, truck-wrestling, twisted metal, wild-assed, guitar-plucking, gray-whiskered, screaming and shouting, foot stomping “Dirty ‘Ol One Man Band” known as Scott H. Biram is back with a brand new album called Nothin’ But Blood from Bloodshot Records, and it’s a shoot-a-belt-of-whiskey and run-buck-wild-in-the-woods kind of good time, followed by the old-school repentance and cool-minded reflections of a Sunday morning. It’s all porch picking and domestic disputes, flashing cop lights and shack shows deep in the woods. Bury your no good woman with a shovel, and then sing a gospel song as the human soul pinballs between good and evil in the ever-restless struggle of a man baptized in the blood of his own sins.
Biram stands (well maybe innebriatingly-swaying) at the apex of artists that roll their punk influences in a dirty, spicy rub of Clarksdale, Mississippi blues, marinate them in a jerk of genuine Hill Country muddy water, and cook them over burning planks from the dilapidated shacks of what blues music once was. Add a little Texas twang, and what you have is something your cardiologist may not recommend for a heart healthy diet, but it’s one hell of a good time.
With a Scott H. Biram album, you know what you’re going to get. The Grammy Awards may not come calling, but he’s not going to lay an egg on your ass. The album starts off arguably with its best track, the foreboding “Slow and Easy” with its booming bass accentuations and grooving, moody sound. Nothin’ But Blood has some good singer-songwriter moments, like the sharply-written “Never Comin’ Home,” and though I want to question how much a soldier would want to return to the Far East because of the quality of their reefer, the sentiment of “Nam Weed” is still palpable.
Though the sub-genre most associated with Scott Biram is the punk blues showcased best in the rousing track “Only Whiskey,” Nothin’ But Blood‘s most hardcore moments almost trend more toward metal, like with the serrated edges of “Church Point Girls,” and the mostly-instrumental “Around The Bend” that also highlights Biram’s chicken-picking skills and his prowess as a tone monster. These tracks are almost like the death metal of dirty blues, with “Around The Bend” vying for the title as the album’s most bold, creative track.
There are many ghosts living underneath the skin of Scott H. Biram, and his ability to inhabit the many different souls of man in both his voice and style, and shape shift deftly between them from track to track, has always been a point of awe. But all the madness captured on Nothin’ But Blood is later absolved in three consecutive gospel tunes to finish the work off: “Amazing Grace,” “When I Die,” and “John The Revelator.”
Though there’s not really any scabs to pick at on Nothin’ But Blood aside from a few wonky moments in the timing that tends to be one of the signatures of a Biram recording, here some 11 albums into his career, a sameness has creeped into his music and the approach to where there’s nothing specifically wrong, but it may leave some long-term listeners wondering what else he’s got. Though every record is solid and consistent, it may be a little too consistent to keep certain ears attentive.
When looking at some of Biram’s contemporaries like Charlie Parr, who just put out an exclusively-instrumental and improvised album called Hollandale, or Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band that arguably put out his career’s best recently with Between The Ditches, and Possessed By Paul James who despite a similar solo approach to Biram was able to step it up with his last record There Will Be Nights When I’m Lonely, there has been an evolution—a slow progress if not a sea change that allows the artist’s career and catalog to remain spicy. Though there are some new wrinkles here and there on Nothin’ But Blood, it still begs the question, where does Scott Biram go next?
But reinventing yourself can be a tricky business, and it is where a lot of music careers have gone down in flames. Maintaining a high level of quality for 15 years and over 11 releases is hard enough. But that’s what Scott H. Biram has risen out of a bloody river to accomplish with Nothin’ But Blood.
Good album cover, by the way.
1 3/4 of 2 guns up.
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JW
February 4, 2014 @ 12:23 pm
It’s worth noting, and I just found this out myself, some versions of the album do not contain the Bonus Gospel Tracks of “Amazing Grace”, “When I Die” and “John The Revelator”. I’m sure it will be a let down for some folks if they get one of these editions because “When I Die” was the lead single and the gospel tracks were used heavily in early promotion of the album.
Jack Williams
February 4, 2014 @ 12:35 pm
Hmmm. Interesting. Amazon doesn’t have those three tracks listed on any format. Just checked Allmusic and they do have those tracks listed. Thought they were strong versions when I previewed the album.
Honest Charlie's Productions
February 4, 2014 @ 12:38 pm
That is really odd.. It was just there a few minutes ago when I ordered..
big stem
February 4, 2014 @ 12:55 pm
So where can you find it with the additional tracks?
JW
February 4, 2014 @ 1:12 pm
I believe you can get them on Bloodshot’s edition of the CD they’re selling. That’s the only place I have seen the tracks listed on the item page. Amazon just has the eleven standard tracks and I haven’t been able to look at a CD in the store to know if there are two editions of the CD or not. I got an deluxe red LP from Bloodshot and it didn’t have the bonus tracks on it either.
JW
February 4, 2014 @ 1:13 pm
I think the full CD edition is also on Biram’s store page. Those tracks might be exclusive to him and Bloodshot, I’m not sure.
Honest Charlie's Productions
February 4, 2014 @ 1:20 pm
I will be bummed if the bonus tracks are not on the copy I ordered through Amazon.
Mike
February 4, 2014 @ 3:35 pm
The gospel bonus tracks are on every copy of the CD. They are not available digitally or on LP. Two of them are on the ‘When I Die’ 7″ single and will be available digitally after that sells out.
Trigger
February 4, 2014 @ 4:12 pm
The copies I got had the Gospel tracks, and they were on the preview AV Club ran, so I’m surprised to hear they’re not on some of the releases. Folks should make sure they get them because to me they complete the project.
J.W.
February 4, 2014 @ 7:10 pm
That’s good to know if they are on every CD. It seems like Amazon’s listing is in error since it lists the eleven standard tracks. As I said, I only got the LP, for a physical copy, though I may pick up a CD also. It’s that good.
Honest Charlie's Productions
February 4, 2014 @ 12:24 pm
Just ordered this a few minutes ago. I am interested in hearing why he incorporated the Gospel tracks. Its a pretty bold move by him considering it has become the cool thing to do by many artists in the underground scene to make a mockery of one’s religious beliefs so I applaud him for that. I really dig the whole album but to be honest the stand out tracks are the Gospel tracks. I cannot stand to listen to modern Christian music so this is awesome to hear. Again SHB didn’t let me down.. GREAT album..!
bates
February 4, 2014 @ 12:59 pm
Yeah I like hearing his christian roots come into play in his albums. Makes me feel at home. And you’re right, modern Christian music just does not cut it.
Trigger
February 4, 2014 @ 11:17 pm
Even without the last 3 Gospel tracks, there’s Gospel elements throughout this album like in “Gotta Get To Heaven,” and even a little bit in “Never Coming Home” and “Around The Bend.” It is definitely a theme to the album. The underground is always behind-the-curve. Gospel is hot right now, and there’s many artists using it regardless of their personal beliefs because it is a beautiful, essential element of American roots music.
I wrote an article about all of this a while back:
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/why-god-gospel-are-re-emerging-in-american-music
MC
February 4, 2014 @ 12:28 pm
This guy is awesome! If you haven’t discovered him this album is a must.Larry and his Flask are out with Scott in March and April. Should be a hellava show!
Trainwreck92
February 9, 2014 @ 4:19 pm
Yep, I can’t wait. I’m going to see them in Dallas when they come through Tejas.
bates
February 4, 2014 @ 12:49 pm
Trigger I have to agree to a certain extent with you on his “sameness” on his music over the years. Yes, times change; people change; music evolves. However, I have to admit, his music style is a staple in my book of artists. I would be disappointed to hear him change for the worse, sort of like how Hank 3 and Shooter did with some of their latest albums. I applaud him for finding his style and doing what he does best all these years.
Trigger
February 4, 2014 @ 4:15 pm
I agree. Trying to change up what you do can be a risky business and it usually pays of in spades or goes down in flames. Sometimes the best thing to do is to go with what you know will work.
CAH
February 4, 2014 @ 1:57 pm
This is great news – I will pick up a copy of this soon at my LRS.
Well written review, too, amigo – lots of creative imagery and metaphors to properly describe an extraordinary effort by SHB.
Nick
February 4, 2014 @ 10:07 pm
And just when I swore off physical CDs.. I’ll be getting a hard copy of this one.
I’m frankly impressed that he’s been able to keep doing his thing for so long.
He is just a different animal, I suppose.
On the gospel/ religous aspect.. I can’t figure out his stance on it.
On one hand, he does beautiful renditions of gospel staples. One the other,
He seems to undermine Christianity with his use of demonic imagery, etc..
I’m a pretty devout Baptist, so I tend to pay attention to that kind of thing.
Anybody have any insight? Nothing would stop me from continuing to be a fan,
Just curious though.
Trigger
February 4, 2014 @ 11:20 pm
Gospel music is one of the most essential and primitive forms of American music, and you really can’t do what Scott Biram does without at least recognizing it. Over the last few years there have been many artists using Gospel in the music. It is especially popular to end sets or albums with a Gospel song or two. From what I’ve seen Scott say in previous interviews and movies and such, he seems to be a dude not to keen on religion. But that doesn’t mean he can’t still have respect for it, and incorporate it into his music.
I wrote an article about this a while back.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/why-god-gospel-are-re-emerging-in-american-music
Travis
February 6, 2014 @ 6:49 pm
Yeah. I seem to remember him kind of distancing himself from religion in the Folk Singer doc. Something to the effect of him not being into all that god bullshit. I don’t quite remember. I watched the documentary a while back, copied the music, and gave the movie to a friend. I’m a fan of both Biram and PPJ but there was some odd stuff in that movie.
Matt
February 5, 2014 @ 3:57 pm
Damn…I need to get this guy’s music. Who are some other artists like him? I’ve got all Hank III’s cds and am looking to branch out.
Trigger
February 5, 2014 @ 5:05 pm
Possessed by Paul James, Charlie Parr, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Reverednd Deadeye, Lone Wolf OMB,
Actually here’s a whole list of them:
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/16-essential-one-man-bands-of-the-roots-world
Matt
February 5, 2014 @ 6:58 pm
Thanks Trigger. You’ve just opened up a whole new world to me!