Formed a little less than ten years ago, Nashville Pussy has always been a band that sounded like a great idea on paper but something was always missing when it came to the finished product. A whiskey and weed soaked rock n roll outing that combines AC/ DC, Motorhead, Ted Nugent and a little bit of country and blues sounds like a killer combination but I’ve always felt like the Pussy never quite got round to making an album that was killer from start to finish. Well, I think that problem has been addressed on From Hell to Texas making this the best Nashville Pussy outing so far.

The album is just filled with rock n roll party anthems from start to finish. Opener, Speed Machine has a real Five Horse Johnson vibe to its Southern fried hard rock while Drunk Driving Man is pure AC/ DC worship. The real highlights for me though are the tongue in cheek Lazy Jesus complete with a country drawl, harmonica and bass guitar led melody. I’m So High could have been on any Motley Crue album from the 80s if not for the southern fried guitar sound but that chorus is all Crue. Then we come to the strongest part of the album. The last 7 songs starting with Dead Men Can’t Get Drunk and ending with Give Me a Hit before I Go is pure unadulterated heavy rock n roll. In between is my favourite song of the year so far in Why, Why, Why which is typical of the band with its misogynistic stance and super catchy chorus.

The band has perfected the catchy chorus and the leads when they come around are much improved too. I guess the one change is that From Hell to Texas sees the band just toning down their sound a little bit and not being as riotous as they used to be while keeping the inherent fun aspect and lack of political correctness centrestage like always. They seem to be less concerned about shock and awe and blowing the roof off and more concerned about making each song stick in your head. The way I see it, this is only a good thing and I don’t think there’s going to be a more fun and consistent party rock album all year.

From Hell to Texas is the most enjoyable album I’ve heard all year and this album should appeal to just about everybody who listens to rock music.

Label - Spitfire

Year of Release - 2009