Modern Sounds of the Knitters
Give theCarter Familya case of Budweiser and burning backbeat steeped in punk and roots rock and they might sound like the Knitters, a one-off (or so we thought), all-star outfit of old-time country attributions named in honor of fifties' folkies The Weavers. They're back, 20 years after the classic debutPoor Little Critter on the Road, with another batch of traditional takes on country standards and acoustically countrified versions of rock songs. Led by John Doe (with his delightfully tangled harmonies), and including Exene Cervenka, drummer D.J. Bonebrake of the renowned Los Angeles band X, and ex-Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin, the band transitions effortlessly fromCritterto cover the Stanley Brothers ("Rank Stranger"), Porter Waggoner ("I'll Go Down Swinging") and Steppenwolf ("Born to Be Wild"), as well as revamp X favorites from the early ("In This House That I Call Home") and later ("Burning House of Love") days. A perfect link from Hank Williams through theMinutemento alt-country vogue, let's hope the Knitters don't wait another two decades for the trifecta.--Scott Holter