Scott H. Biram

Scott H. Biram

Amped sounds of a mad trucker crab broke open Scott H. Biram's Bloodshot Records' sophomore sticker, Graveyard Shift (see "Texas Platters," July 21, 2006), but the bruised heart of "Lost Case of Being Found" and "Santa Fe" uncovered disarming vulnerability. Something's Wrong/Lost Forever, platter six for the local one-man wrecker, opens on the institutional dementia of "Hospital Escape," which sets up the Fat Possum transistor blues of "Time Flies" ("when you're going down slow"). Yet it's the organ-lacquered strum of "Sinkin' Down" that records Biram's secret specialty: down-on-your-luck rubberneck-ability. "Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue," organ-coated as well, constitutes authentic outlaw melancholy from George Jones to Merle Haggard. "Draggin' Down the Line" leaves a trail equally obvious, and electric-hewn solo "Wildside" could dominate the quartet. Biram's lonesome soul approaches the authenticity of the Black Keys/Dan Auerbach, not forgetting harp carburetors ("Ain't It a Shame"), foot-stomps ("Hard Time"), or field-holler closer "Go Down Ol' Hannah." Graveyard Shift brought annunciation; Something's Wrong/Lost Forever responds with coalescence.