Charmed Life by 18 Wheeler

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Boulder Weekly says: A Stellar Blend of physcobilly

and Stray Cat Greaser Rock!

18 Wheeler

Charmed Life (BWJ)

By Tuyet Nguyen

Published: September 21, 2006

Subject(s): 18 Wheeler Rockabilly is an especially specific genre. Despite technological advances in hair goop in the past fifty years or so, the style hasn't deviated too much from slicked-up pompadours and thumping slap-bass lines (even psychobilly counterparts remain true to the general approach). Take stylized guitar riffs and bop 'em out with surf-pop drumbeats, and you've got the archetypal rockabilly sound -- nostalgia to the point of nausea. But that's the lure of retro rock, and 18 Wheeler is one hell of a squirming, greased-up bait. Charmed Life is modern, tattoo-friendly rockabilly, rampant with old rhythm-and-blues twang and twist-n-shout choruses. From classically named tracks like "Let's Bop" to "Hot Rod Man," 18 Wheeler keeps experimentation at a minimum while channeling the spirits of Bill Haley and Buddy Holly. It's wild dance-hall rebellion the way its been done before -- right down to the whiskey-soaked mantras and good ol' American-boy charm.

This is 18 Wheeler's 2nd studio recording, or electronic noise depending on who you talk to. The CD "Charmed Life" was recorded in Ft Collins Colorado at "The Blasting Room" owned and operated by Bill Stevenson former drummer of Black Flag, ALL, and The Descendents. www.blastingroomstudios.com It took us only 3 days to record the CD. Most of which was done LIVE! with very little overdubs to get that raw garage feel. Although we are a Rockabilly type band there are some pretty rockin tracks on this CD.

Our influences draw way back as early as the 40's, 50's, 60's 70's and 80's and current. When writing the material for "Charmed Life" we felt we should let all those influences in to our songs and not worry about trying to write the perfect Rockabilly record that has already been done back in the 50's. After all it is 2006 for God's sake!!! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it, 3 12 packs later, hahahahaha

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