| Perennial Favorites | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Squirrel Nut Zippers | ||||
| Released | August 4, 1998 (1998-08-04) | |||
| Studio | Kensway, Pittsboro, North Carolina | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:04 | |||
| Label | Mammoth | |||
| Producer | Mike Napolitano, Squirrel Nut Zippers | |||
| Squirrel Nut Zippers chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Robert Christgau |  |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Entertainment Weekly | C− |
| Los Angeles Times |  |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Spin | 4/10 |
Perennial Favorites is an album by the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers, released in 1998.
The album peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard 200. It achieved gold status.
Production
The album was recorded at Ken Mosher's studio in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
Critical reception
AllMusic wrote: "Part of the reason stand apart from the rest of the neo-swing crowd is that they don't forget that there was a bit of menace in the days of hot jazz -- it wasn't a naive, swinging party, there was some genuine hedonism as well." Entertainment Weekly's review called the band "adept but inconsequential," writing that Katharine Whalen's "sleepy Billie Holiday cadences verge on satire." Spin called the album "self-congratulatory, jokey, essentially heartless cartoon music masquerading as 1920s 'hot jazz'." The Houston Press deemed it "a dozen rock-solid originals that represent the band's finest and most ambitious collection to date."
Track listing
- "Suits Are Picking Up the Bill" (Jimbo Mathus) – 3:04
- "Low Down Man" (Mathus) – 4:14
- "Ghost of Stephen Foster" (Mathus) – 3:32
- "Pallin' with Al" (Maxwell) – 2:41
- "Fat Cat Keeps Getting Fatter" (Mathus) – 2:47
- "Trou Macacq" (Maxwell) – 3:17
- "My Drag" (Mathus) – 3:27
- "Soon" (Maxwell) – 3:02
- "Evening at Lafitte's" (Mathus) – 2:48
- "The Kraken" (Maxwell) – 3:40
- "That Fascinating Thing" (Mathus) – 2:43
- "It's Over" (Mathus) – 1:49
- Hidden track: "Berceuse Tendres" – 1:16
Personnel
- Jimbo Mathus – vocals, trombone, banjo, piano, lead guitar, guitar, percussion, backing vocals
- Tom Maxwell – vocals, tenor and baritone saxophone, gong, backing vocals, clarinet, rhythm guitar
- Katharine Whalen – vocals, banjo
- Ken Mosher – alto and baritone saxophone, guitar, cymbal, Fender Rhodes
- Je Widenhouse – cornet, trumpet, backing vocals
- Stuart Cole – bass
- Don Raleigh – bass
- Chris Phillips – drums, percussion, steel drum, contraption kit, backing vocals
Additional personnel
- Andrew Bird – violin, percussion, background vocals
- Emily Laurance – harp
- Steve Watson – pedal steel
- Rick Lassiter – bass
- Jay Faires – executive producer
- Steve Balcom – executive producer
- Clay Walker – Enhanced CD Design, Multimedia Producer, Photography, Video Editor, Video Producer
References
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 688.
- "CNN - Squirrel Nut Zippers defy labels with 'Perennial Favorites' - August 4, 1998". CNN.
- ^ "Squirrel Nut Zippers Sink Teeth Into New LP". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021.
- ^ "Perennial Favorites - Squirrel Nut Zippers | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- "Robert Christgau: CG: Squirrel Nut Zippers". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ "PERENNIAL FAVORITES;THE DIRTY BOOGIE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- "Separating the Faddies From the Real Swingin' Daddies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1080.
- "Squirrel Nut Zippers: Perennial Favorites : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-02.
- ^ "Reviews". SPIN. September 21, 1998 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Squirrel Nut Zippers | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- Joyce, Mike (August 30, 1998). "THE SWING SET'S UPS & DOWNS" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- "Squirrel Nut Zippers". Billboard.
- Ruggiero, Bob (August 6, 1998). "World of Their Own". Houston Press.
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