The Red Aunts' raunchy mix of punk rock and blues is hampered on
Saltbox by overly elaborate song structures and
Sally Browder's clean production.
The Red Aunts should get credit for the progression in their musicianship, but their songs get bogged down with too many parts as a result. They leave the listener with the feeling that they couldn't end the song(s). The highlight of
Saltbox is the last song, "Goin Downtown," a
Hank Williams-like country track which shows that the
Red Aunts have a pretty good understanding of the genre, and that they are not just another punk band from Southern California. ~ Brian Flota