Roots-rock and Alaska have, as of yet, not been strongly linked in the minds of most. Helping turn the tide on that are The Whipsaws, Anchorage, Alaska`s answer to the Drive-By Truckers. Ten Day Bender is a ten chapter musical "novel" and the debut release for this north-northwestern quartet of southern rocker. Offhand the "chapter" titles give key inference to the nature of the number - "Shotgun Wedding", "Hillbilly Heroin", "Hole In My Heart", "Codeine", etc. - zoning in on classic working man song fodder such as broken hopes, broken hearts and the chemicals of excess. It all goes down well with the liberal use of crunchy electric guitar action and slippery lap-steel, each complimenting the band`s loose but engaging material with roadhouse zeal. With songwriting and vocal credits diffused amongst the band, the bulk of the lead comes from singer/acoustic guitarist Evan Phillips, whose beery drawl offers up universal tales of the hard life, bringing "the dirty south" to a northern clime. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music (self-released)
