For
Don't Like You,
Cheater Slicks acquired the production services of friend and fan
Jon Spencer (
Pussy Galore,
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion).
Spencer also trades places with vocalist Dana Hatch on "Sensitive Side," his zonked-out, stoner ode to the band (Hatch sounds almost as stoned on the
Johnny Thunders-like "Should I"). The entire enterprise could be considered a bit of a family affair, as
Spencer's longtime compatriot, Jerry Teel (
the Honeymoon Killers), also lends his services on harmonica (the smokin' "Motherlode") and recording. (
Boss Hog's
Cristina Martinez would seem to be the only key "family" member missing.) The results are more successful than not -- especially the opening
Scientists-inspired distortion blast, "Feel Free" -- but there's possibly a little more variety here than necessary.
Spencer's song, for instance, would have worked better at the end of the recording or even as a bonus track (along with the actual bonus, a spoken word bit). From a sequencing standpoint, it just doesn't fit as comfortably with the rest of the material as it could. That quibble aside, this is one of
Cheater Slicks' finest releases in a long and varied career. ~ Kathleen C. Fennessy