Various Artists - Why The Hell Not... The Songs of Kinky Friedman

When it comes to lyrics, Kinky Friedman is as unconventional as his name might imply. That the same guy who wrote the hilariously offensive anti-feminist rant "Get Your Biscuits in the Oven" could also have written the monumentally touching ballads "Sold American" and "Lady Yesterday" is a little on the jarring side; but it goes along with realizing that every artist is a little schizophrenic in a lot of ways. Friedman is proud of being Jewish; he's proud of Texas, he's a proud American - in his own way. He's got a lot of famous friends (many of them appearing on this disc), he says what he thinks and he's not at all afraid to pull punches, nor does he soften his attitude to appease listeners. Yet he's somehow able to compose songs that touch the heart very gently, with powerful lyrics and tender tunes, from the sadness of a boy running from himself in Dwight Yoakam's version of "Rapid City, South Dakota" to the elderly mother's joy found in just rocking and listening to the radio preacher man in "The Gospel According To John", performed by Jason Boland and The Stragglers, some of these songs can be downright shocking to anyone who knows anything about Kinky-as-comedian or Kinky-as-politician.

It's true that Kinky's not for everyone. Some might be offended by some of his songs - but he makes no apologies. There might be a real novelty feel to tunes like "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore" and the very funny "Homo Erectus," but Kinky wasn't really made much for radio, either (although I'm pretty certain I remember hearing "Sold American" somewhere before - it was previously released on the Kinky Friedman tribute album Pearls in the Snow, as were a few other tracks featured here). Nah, Kinky's just... well, Kinky. When you read his books or listen to his music, there he is in his all his loud, Jewish, Texan, big-mouthed glory (it's not too many authors who make themselves the lead character in their mystery novels). Yet somehow with the music it's possible to see past that to a surprisingly tender heart, even when listening to a song with the deceptive title of "Wild Man From Borneo." Will it make you want to hear more of Kinky's music? I think so. It certainly has me.