| Root Hog or Die | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper |
| Cover: | Mnixon Rhog.jpg |
| Released: | 1989 |
| Studio: | Sounds Unreel Studios, Memphis, Tennessee |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Label: | Enigma |
| Producer: | Jim Dickinson |
| Prev Title: | Bo-Day-Shus!!! |
| Prev Year: | 1987 |
| Next Title: | Unlimited Everything |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
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]
"Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child" was released as a single; MTV refused to air the accompanying video, which starred Winona Ryder as Gibson.[8] [9] The song peaked at No. 16 on Billboards Modern Rock Tracks chart.[10] The video for "(619) 239-KING" includes guest appearances from the Beat Farmers, Dead Milkmen, and Kris Kristofferson.[11]
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." 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."[21] 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."[22]
The Toronto Star considered Nixon "rock's lewd, anarchistic answer to Foghorn Leghorn," writing that several songs are "are suitably goofy, lascivious rants."[23] The Calgary Herald labeled the music "some of the funkiest, stripped-down, rock 'n' country 'n' blues around."[24] The Gazette judged the album "drunken, belligerent novelty-store rock, in pursuit of the perfect gag."[25] 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."
All songs written by Nixon and published by Tallywacker Tunes/La Rana Music except as indicated.
6 appears only on the cassette and CD releases of the album; 13 appears only on the CD release.
with: