You Can't Poison a Pig

by Pig in a Can

Overview

A band name like Pig in a Can leads the listener to hope that this modern blues project owes more to Captain Beefheart than Robert Cray. Indeed, tracks like the spookily atmospheric title song, basically a found piece of rural philosophy by Harmonica Slim set to an ambient-blues backdrop, are effectively weird. Unfortunately, the proper songs suffer from a severe skronk deficit; "Tried to Get Along" wouldn't sound out of place on a Moby album, and "Don't Leave Me Baby" sounds like someone has attempted a mash-up of an old Lightnin' Slim outtake with the rhythm track from a mid-'80s Ministry song. At its best, electric blues can often have a chaotic, edge-of-madness feel, as the emotions of the lyrics and passion of the playing threaten to erupt unexpectedly. By the end of You Can't Poison a Pig, it's clear that this collective is simply too restrained for that. It would help if the pig wanted to get out of his can a little more often. ~ Stewart Mason

Product Details

Release Date:	02/18/2003
Label:	Fedora Records
UPC:	0639445800229
Rank:	137703

Tracks

1. Can't Poison a Pig
2. Tried to Get Along
3. Don't Leave Me Baby
4. Ghost of John Henry
5. It's Coming
6. Hole in Her Belly
7. K.C. Douglas Blues
8. The Hog Butcher
9. Fresh Feelin's
10. Record Players
11. $1000 Toasts
12. Slim's Roadside Luau
13. Slim's B3 Blues
14. Big Legged Woman
15. Butch Eats Pig in a Can for the First Time

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Pig in a Can   Primary Artist
John "Sly" Wilson   Fife,Guitar,Keyboards,Turntables,Electronics,Piano (Electric),Box,Bass
Chris Millar   Drums
Michael Kott   Electric Cello
Harmonica Slim   Vocals,Harmonica
Gary Tharp   Keyboards
Kelly Jones   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

John Wilson   Producer,Engineer
John "Sly" Wilson   Engineer,Producer,Sound Creation
Chris Millar   Assistant Producer
Gary Tharp   Mixing,Assistant Producer
Keiji Obata   Art Direction
Joe Fields   Executive Producer