Travel On, Scrawl

AMG Review of Travel On, Scrawl

Andy Kellman
All Music Guide

Travel on, reader, to the cutout bin. Issued in 1996 to promote -- wow, Scrawl was promoted? -- Travel on, Rider in the retail and college radio sectors, the similarly titled Travel on, Scrawl includes the album tracks "Louis L'Amour" and "What Did We Give Away." A demo version of "Everyone I Saw Tonight" rivals most of the songs that ended up on the record, so it's no surprise that they'd eventually polish it up for inclusion on 1998's Nature Film. The real ballbuster that makes this a curiosity for fans is "Ted Nugent Medley," consisting of pieces from Whackmaster classics "Stranglehold," "Cat Scratch Fever," and -- of course -- "Dog Eat Dog." It's a wonder how Marcy Mays was able to keep a straight face while singing the line "well, the first time that I got it I was just ten years old/got it from some pussy next door." Come to think of it, it's a wonder she was able to sing any of the lines without doubling over in laughter. But does the medley cut the mustard? No doubt, Ted would be proud. If you have trouble locating this in used shops, it's probably because a former college marketing representative or three have a couple hundred copies tucked away in their closets.