Root Hog or Die is an album by the American musicians Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, released in 1989.[1][2] It was the duo's final studio album.[3] Nixon originally wanted to call it Bush Idiot Slime; he took "root hog or die" from Davy Crockett's autobiography.[4][5] The duo supported the album with a North American tour.[6]Root Hog or Die sold more than 50,000 copies in its first six months of release.[7]
Recorded in Memphis, the album was produced by Jim Dickinson.[12][13] The producer helped Nixon create a much fuller band sound.[14]Ben Cauley, of the Bar-Kays, played trumpet on the album.[15]
"(619) 239-KING" provides a number for Elvis to call to confirm his aliveness, with the area code located in San Diego.[16] Nixon raps on the cover of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land".[17] "Pirate Radio" criticizes the FCC.[18] Nixon considered "High School Football Friday Night" to be less satirical and closer to traditional singer-songwriter material.[19] "Chicken Drop" is about the game of chance.[20]
Robert Christgau gave Root Hog or Die an A−, deeming it "Nixon's finest artistic achievement." However, he was unimpressed with Roper's cuts, calling them "the usual yawn" and commenting that "Mojo's loyalty to his partner, who has-his-own-album-out God-help-us, is one reason I think he's got a good heart."[23] The Los Angeles Times noted that, "though his lyrics are one continuous snicker, the musical settings betray a true fondness for rock 'n' blues roots," writing that Nixon "plays the part of the junior-high bad boy with enough zest to be endearing, at least to listeners who don't easily take offense at crazed, scatological mockery."[26]The Dallas Morning News stated that the songs "bend and buck with a raucous energy... The music is raw and catchy, filled with sharply picked guitars and smoothly sassy horns."[27]
The Toronto Star considered Nixon "rock's lewd, anarchistic answer to Foghorn Leghorn," writing that several songs are "are suitably goofy, lascivious rants."[28] The Calgary Herald labeled the music "some of the funkiest, stripped-down, rock 'n' country 'n' blues around."[29]The Gazette judged the album "drunken, belligerent novelty-store rock, in pursuit of the perfect gag."[30] The Chicago Tribune branded Nixon a "rockin' libertarian, a guy who extols free speech, free thought and free love with equal parts audacity and sincerity."[22]
Track listing
All songs written by Nixon and published by Tallywacker Tunes/La Rana Music except as indicated.
