Preacher Roe has a great little ditty on their myspace page entitled "Roadside Crosses". Its dark, low-fi twang really puts my imagination into an uproar. The song really stuck with me. Its simplistic perfection haunted me all day. Each note evoking images of Jack Daniel's fueled revolver-ridden road trips.

Needless to say, I dug the song.

Unfortunately, the kind folks in charge didn’t ask me to review that song. No kind reader, I was left with the unenviable task of trying to find something to write about "Sudafed & Maker's Mark". Stripped of all the charms that made Crosses so enthralling, S&M, does everything that can be expected of a song on its most basic levels. It begins, it ends, and does seemingly everything in its power to avoid anything interesting in-between. It’s an upbeat little number with the fidelity and attack reminiscent of Murmur era REM. But truth be told, the whole thing just seems unfinished.

I have no doubt that there is a cool song in here somewhere. What I’ve viewed as a failed experiment in upbeat pop, could very well be a successful expedition into jangily blandness, if the song writing aptitude shown in Crosses is any indication. Preacher Roe is certainly in control on its own whiskey-driven destiny, but it is difficult to believe anyone would set out to write anything that screamed “full length album filler” as much as this tedious track does.

By all means check these guys out, they definitely have a lot to offer. But tread carefully if you stumble upon this track, and take the title as a warning – because Sudafed & Maker's Mark just ain’t good for you.

-- Michael Mars Jr.

For more information visit www.myspace.com/preacherroe

Preacher Roe - Sudafed & Maker's Mark (mp3)

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