The Reddmen - The Reddmen Anthology 1995-2010

• Liner Notes for The Reddmen Anthology 1995-2010

    Your holding a history of what is arguably the longest running and most influential underground band to ever come out of Rapid City. 
    I've been fortunate to watch this band grow. One of their first shows was in my parents front yard in the mid 1990's.  I remember being blown away by the talent The Reddmen exhibited even in their pre-teens.  As young musicians they held nothing back, sacrificing all, full of power, energy and drive.  What's even more impressive is that over the years this band never lost a bit of its youthful vigor and enthusiasm.  
    You can hear this unyielding force throughout the progression of this boxset. The first installment represents early years - some of them were recorded on a boom box in a basement in their famed Northside neighborhood of Lakota Homes, others on a four track recorder with a single Sure SM58. Considering this the recording quality is quite impressive. But anyone who dismisses the early work based on the rough edges of these recordings would miss the point entirely. There is a beauty here in the sheer rawness of these songs. It's the unbridled sound of youth, the sound of a sweaty summer mosh pit,  the sound of dancing your heart out, the sound of new love, and the angst of heartbreak. 
    The disc two begins with an explosion of sound. "Do You Think About Me Too?" an album outtake from 2006's 'Arsenic Ballads', is an awesome example of how much fun The Reddmen can put into two minutes and forty eight seconds.  The first tracks on this CD require a decent sized stereo with the volume turned way up. They will make you get up and fucking dance. The first songs bring to mind spectacular sets that would end with J. Waylon smashing his guitar, One Arrow kicking over the drums, the trio walking off the stage with the crowd screaming, sweaty and spent.  This CD is titled "Another Tale of Trippy Counterculture High End Prissy Designers," the name appears to be derived from the more acoustic tracks near the end. They are more mellow and very fun. These tracks feature some cool experimentation with synthesizers and a relaxed reverb on the layered vocals over 60's guitar sounds.  In the end this disc will leave you smiling and satisfied.  
    In the third installment The Reddmen come home again to their rock roots. The sound and recording quality is much more mature and refined on this CD titled "More Superstitious Sure Fire Tricks."  The full potential of the band is achieved in these later recordings, they successfully integrate the slower sounds on some songs with with the pure rock power of others.  Track twenty six "The Continuing Saga of Ms. Carefree Arizona" has a solid country music influence and a fun story-line. These are b-sides  they several previously unreleased recordings. But they are not at all second rate or reject songs - There are some serious gems here - each worth a serious listen. In "Bang Machine" Trevor Leo, the longest running bassist of the band, has a cameo on the mic, his quieter stage presence does nothing to hide his sheer talent.  This song is a personal favorite. 
    There are 88 songs on these three CDs. The volume of music here testifies to how prolific The Reddmen have been over the years. Yet this is a not a case of quantity over quality, and this three CD box set is not a full discography, this set is not everything you need for the definitive collection there is much, much more. This collection is the sweet icing on the cake, some of the best songs over the career of this band.  For me it brings out an ever greater love and respect for the talent of these local favorites. The Reddmen are talking about breaking up. Word is their last show will hit the stage Summer 2011.  I'll be in the crowd, a bit sad to we loose such a powerful force, but with a hope of hearing a few of these songs.

-Charles Michael Ray, Spring 2011