BUBBLES and the SHITROCKERS – Longhauler – The Best of Bubbles and the Shitrockers (2024 Swearnet)

It’s right there in the lyrics to “Home Is Where Your Shed Is” – kitties, liquor and dope.  That about sums up the major singing interests of the Bubbles character from Trailer Park Boys.  The album Longhauler – The Best of Bubbles and the Shitrockers accompanies the new movie, Standing on the Shoulder of Kitties.  As implied by the the title, many of these songs are familiar from the TV show or online episodes.

The question is, can you sustain the jokes for an entire album?  A TV series or a movie is an altogether different comedic vehicle.

Fortunately, Mike Smith (Bubbles) is a worldclass musician from the Halifax band sandbox.   This album will probably land in more ears than his conceptual indi rock band ever did, and for that reason, it is produced and engineered by none other than Eddie Kramer.  It also features Billy Bob Thornton and Ronnie Wood in the credits on backing vocals, not that you’ll notice.

The direction is, with the exception of two tracks, country & western.  Musically, this album is legit.  Mike Smith plays most instruments, including guitar, mandolin, piano, mellotron and more.  His backing band provides pedal steel, dobro, hammond, stand-up bass and all the trimmings.  Smith is a seasoned musician and songwriter, and he knows his stuff.  There’s nothing jokey about the music; just the lyrics.

Perhaps the part that wears out soonest is the Bubbles character himself.  Singing like that, and the limited subject matter of the lyrics, over the course of a full album is a challenge to take in.

Songs you’ll recognize:

• “Who’s Got Yer Belly?” featuring Mike’s pal Alex Lifeson from Rush
• “Kitties Are So Nice”
• “Liquor and Whores”

It is also great to have a copy of Bubbles’ pirate shanty, “The Kittyman”.  This is one of the songs that doesn’t fit the country direction, and is a highlight for that reason.  Plus it’s also just great fun.

Even songs that seem “clean” and safe to share with your cat-loving friends, such as “Kitties Are So Nice”, may not be safe to share after all.  “Every kitty I ever met likes to fuck with string,” sings Bubbles in an earnest voice.

The album closes with the movie theme, “Standing on the Shoulder of Kitties”.  Immediately with the mellotron, and the backing vocals later on, it’s more Beatles than country.  It might be overreaching.  The lyrics about how awesome kitties are will keep most people from caring.  If you want to hear somebody do music like this, there are probably Oasis songs you haven’t heard yet.  That’s the impression anyway.  It’s more Oasis than Beatles, and more Beatles than country.  “A kitty’s love is all it takes, la la la la la.”  Not hiding the influences at all, Bubbles even sings that “all you need is love.”

This is a novelty album.  However, if you have a cat lover in your circle, who doesn’t mind a little beer and liquor, then consider Longhauler as a thoughtful gift.

3/5 stars