T. Tex Edwards is a Texas treasure, and despite a few hiccups, "Intexicated" is an excellent introduction to his particular brand of genius. Sometimes still best-known for his stint in the Dallas-area punk band Nervebreakers who opened for Sex Pistols and backed Roky Erickson, Edwards nevertheless should be better known for his pioneering work in the cowpunk tradition.
His original contributions are limited, but they stand tall next to the classics he covers with gusto. Then again, how far would Cramps have gotten had they not mined obscure one-offs for blueprints of their kind of genius?
"Intexicated" is a rough and tumble collection of Edwards' lesser known recordings, culled from long lost 7" records, demo tapes and other assorted avenues. Less cohesive than his "Loafin' Hyenas" or "Pardon Me, I've Got Someone to Kill" albums, "Intexicated" is not by any means insubstantial. It's just messy. It includes songs (and I mean both covers and originals) that rival anything recorded in the cowpunk arena, and a few serious contenders in even the much larger Outlaw Country scene. Backed by a number of outfits in various guises and genres, nearly all of them consist of superbly talented musicians under names like Out On Parole, The Saddle Trams, Lithium X-Mas, The Swinging Cornflake Killers and Purple Stickpin (I can't say the same for 'Mechanical Bull' which, however, does what it needs to).
Just listen to the dynamic interplay of Out on Parole covering Leon Payne's "Psycho" back in 1984, or the Big D Ramblers with their "Intexicated!" bookenders. This is musicianship that's not just showing technical prowess; it's dynamic and it's organic, it's performed with flair, with a sense of joy, but always in tune with whoever is performing next to you, all together in service of the song.
The song selection is fine, including mostly unreleased songs or unheard versions of otherwise familiar cuts. Oddly enough, the sole cut from the Loafin' Hyenas album is the one that always bugged me in an otherwise impeccable record, "If Looks Could Kill (I'd Give You a Second Chance)." Then again, I always thought "Cities on Flame" and "Stairway to the Stars" were the only two mediocre songs on Blue Oyster Cult's eponymous album, so what do I know?
Furthermore, the singular cover selections ("Love Power" from Mel Brooks' Producers, Tex Ritter, Bill Haley and Alice Cooper among others) proceed in a somewhat scattershot order, but everything is funneled through an off-kilter filter that is T. Tex. Whether growling, crooning or doing the rockabilly hiccup, this is a fun collection of pure oddball country injected with a genuine shot of rock'n'roll mojo. Offbeat, yes, but consistently on the money, "Intexicated" is a great overview and a perfect introduction to one of the few true unsung pioneers of alternative country. - JT Lindroos
