'Kakistocracy' - angry political CD from Spicewood Seven

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"Kakistocracy" (rhymes with "democracy" -- means government by the most corrupt and incompetent)is an Americana CD that surveys an America gone wrong. The angry populist message of Kakistocracy: We're being played for fools by fools -- and we want to know why. But instead of pointing fingers, the CD includes a cycle of songs which are slices of life -- sometimes sly and satirical, sometimes blunt as the muzzle of an M-16. The cast of characters range from Iraq War grunts more interested in staying alive than promoting democracy -- to trailer trash-talking mamas getting jacked up on the home front.

Austin-based musician Tommy Spurlock (The Band, George Jones, Rodney Crowell) assembled in the Spicewood Seven a Texas-sized wealth of talent for the project. Jamie Oldaker (drummer on Eric Clapton's classic '70s albums) drives the songs with a swamp arab beat. Also featured are Americana favorites Elana Fremerman (Hot Club of Cow Town, Bob Dylan), and Garth Hudson of The Band. Spurlock also roped in Leon Rausch (legendary singer of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys) to sing "I'm A-Going Down to Crawford, Texas(Gonna Talk to the President)."

The CD has garnered rave-reviews for its no-punches-pulled approach -- think Stephen Colbert in a cowboy hat. While the songs are anti-Iraq War and anti-Bush, they move beyond ad hominem attacks to take aim at the moral fog of an America that gave rise to W and his War.

The album should also appeal to fans of classic Americana music: the eclectic mix of radio-ready tunes range from quiet acoustic meditations to flat-out alt-country rockers fueled by Spurlock's over-driven steel guitar (in homage to his mentor Sneaky Pete Kleinow of the Flying Burrito Brothers). And while the breadth of talent alone should be worth the price of admission, everybody who participated in the project put on their spurs and came ready to play.

The CD is released under the imprint of Austin Records (Omar and the Howlers). "Kakistocracy" is the first release of the revitalized label and is distributed by Burnside Distribution; the album is available digitally on I-Tunes and other digital music stores.

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