The Real Sock Ray Blue

AMG Review of The Real Sock Ray Blue

William Ruhlmann
All Music Guide

Since Mojo Nixon now makes albums only every few years, his comments on current events can be somewhat dated. It wasn't until 1995's Whereabouts Unknown that he took on the 1991 Gulf War, and it wasn't until 1999 that record buyers could hear his thoughts on the O.J. Simpson murder trial ("Orenthal James [Was a Mighty Bad Man]") and the death of Princess Diana ("Drunk Divorced Floozie [The Ballad of Diana Spencer]"). Not that you couldn't imagine what his outraged and outrageous opinions would be. Of course, some issues remained current, such as his dislike of the computer age ("I Don't Want No Cybersex," "Machines Ain't Music/I Got My Mojo Workin'"), Disney and McDonald's ("Disney Is the Enemy"), and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ("Rock N' Roll Hall of Lame"). Basically, Nixon would borrow a tune from Muddy Waters or Chuck Berry and let fly, and as usual he was funny, but like most provocative comedy, the record was more fun to talk about, and play for your friends, than to listen to yourself more than once.