While all of the Beat-Man records have a similar feel due to the Beat-Man touch, each one that I have heard also has their own unique flavors due to the guests that appear with him. In this case, among others, the Get Lost (Rob - slide guitar'n'harp, Gerry - organ/piano and Chris - drums, natch) all show up at various times, and while this does not sound like the Rev fronting the Get Lost, there are some fine variations here.
This opens with a little Carl Perkins-styled blues/country guitar for "Get On Your Knees" - a kinda rockabilly-ish trek through salvation for wronging the Rev, "Come Back Lord" is a bit of garage blues with cool starts'n'stops'n'dynamics (with a new variation on the "Primitive"/"Smokestack Lightning" riff) and call'n'answer choruses, "Back in Hell" is mellower with some country elements, highlighted by Rob's slide guitar (maybe a little reminiscent of the Scientists?), "How Far Can You Go" is an off-kilter garage-punk screamer while "Save My Soul From Hell" is a little quieter with moody organ and a hip groove but the Rev still goes a bit manic as he preaches over the simple backing. A choppy rhythm propels "Ring the Bells For Me", giving it another garage/blues style that continues in "The Lord Is Coming Back" in a Slim Harpo-ish kinda way with another hip, call'n'answer chorus.
A bouncy garage groove drives "Oh Lord I", with more wild slide guitar and a heckuva hollerin' gospel preach'n'response and stompin' ending! It quiets down for a twisted country blues in "You Don't Have To Do It", and returns for a swingin' drivin' beat in the succinctly titled "Fuck You Jesus Fuck You Oh Lord", which besides a lovely sentiment, has some crazed guitar work and insane noize under the Rev's rants. He kinda does a take off on the "Hang Up" riff in "Show Me How" and builds this into a wild rave-up, there's a simple, open, repetitive guitar lick that is the basis for "You Don't Know", but the band layers on top of it giving it a hep fullness and then the whole proceeding closes with the love song "Popcorn Up Your Arse", which actually has a terrific, catchy riff, more cool slide work and great dynamics.
Gotta dig the Man's blasphemous lyrics and wild style, no matter who accompanies him! Always great stuff!
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