1 Been Down Too Long
2 No Way
3 Graveyard Shift
4 Lost Case of Being Found
5 Only Jesus - Scott H. Biram, Matteoli, Mario
6 Goin' Home
7 18 Wheeler Fever
8 Plow You Under
9 Work
10 Long Fingernail
11 Reefer Load
12 Have No Fun
13 Santa Fe
14 Church Babies

From Amazon.com

Gut-checks and coal-black images that linger a bit too long

 Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: One-man-band, Scott H. Biram travels to some dark places on "Graveyard Shift." Certainly, that statement is not a revelation, merely a confirmation. Mr. Biram performs all the music, employing electric and acoustic guitars, harmonica, and organ, plus various other instruments (oops, not so fast, a fellow named Ethan Shaw contributes some steel guitar on the track 18 Wheeler Fever).

The primal mix of rock (heavy stuff), blues, gospel, country and whatever else one wants to look for suggests Mr. Biram either vacations in Hell or gnaws brimstone for breakfast. There are no silver-linings here, just gut-checks and coal-black images that linger a bit too long. Though there is a certain flatness in spots (imagine how these songs might sound with a full band of conspirators helping out), hats off to Mr. Biram for conjuring up this eclectic batch of songs.

Scott is coming on strong

 Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: I've been listening to some of his earlier stuff for some time now. We love to plug in his music when we fire up the 'ole jeep and hit the back forty! Graveyard Shift clearly makes an impression on me of the progression Scott is making in his music. This is the best yet and I agree this is Americana at it's purest degree. -dave

Schizo

 Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: I'm writing this as a country/blues fan who "gets" punk but has no personal taste for it. Even taking into account the tracks that are unadulterated punk ("Church Babies", etc.), this is a good album. Biram does the full spectrum from punk to country to blues and is mesmerizing. If you haven't heard his early rendition of "Pastures of Plenty", go to his website and get that, too. Even Ramblin' Jack Elliott didn't channel Woody Guthrie like that. I wish Amazon would post sound clips, even though they wouldn't do him justice. There's a reason it's the First Church of the Ultimate Fanaticism.

Americana at it's absolute pinnacle

 Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: Let me preface this review by first saying that I am not a fan of the alt-country genre. Scott H. Biram is simply labled as alt-country because there is no country/blues/punk/metal/badassery genre to speak of. And yes, he is all those things and more.

Scott H. Biram is an amazing artist, and puts on a hell of a show. One man, sitting down, gets all the little hole in the wall venues he plays dangerously rowdy. This album, while a bit more down tempo then his previous effort (Dirty old one man band) continues his relentless musical assault on the United States.

Everything he offers is put to front on this album. The opener "Been Down Too Long" is like a tent revival with an open bar. I have not once been able to keep from giving him an "AAAAAAAAMEN!" when listening to this song.

Many other tracks such as "No way" and "Long Fingernail" really display his ability as a singer and songwriter and make no attempts at displaying his whole americana musical fusion thing. They are just good songs.

The title track, "Graveyard Shift", is so heavy that I want to lable it some sort of bizarre mutation of metal. It's hands down one of my favorite songs and is an ode to the working class.

Hell, the last track "Church Babies" is downright punk.

All the hyperbole in the world doesn't really justify this music. Well worth every penny spent. The only thing that keeps me from giving it five stars is that it may inspire someone to buy this album over his first. Both should be had, but in order.

Hellbilly at it's best

 Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: This is a prime example of hellbilly music. The band is great and tight, oh wait, that's not a band it's only one man Scott H. Birham himself. The music is rough and raw, and as the sticker on the album states, best when played very loud. Really, this album, along with his first album, are worth picking up no matter what kind of music you like. He's probably the only guy capable of challenging Hank Williams III for his position as the badest country boy you'll ever meet.