AMG Review of Dawn of Shockabilly

William York
All Music Guide

Dawn of Shockabilly is the band's only release where the rockabilly part of their name really shows through with much prominence, and even here it is just one element among many. The trio's version of the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" has a surf music flavor, while the speeded-up take on the Count Five's old psychedelic rock classic "Psychotic Reaction" has a brain-damaged guitar solo by Eugene Chadbourne that shows some of the group's avant-garde/noise leanings. Elsewhere on this all-covers EP they touch on country ("Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad") and blues ("Train Kept a' Rollin"), but they always take their liberties, especially when it comes to Chadbourne's unusual multiple personality vocals (an acquired taste, perhaps). Since its original issue, Dawn... has been included on two other releases, Earth Vs. the Dawn of Shockabilly and Live...Just Beautiful. Despite its short duration, the EP is worth tracking down in one form or another by anyone interested in the group.