Perennial Favorites
Studio album by
Squirrel Nut Zippers
ReleasedAugust 4, 1998 (1998-08-04)
StudioKensway, Pittsboro, North Carolina
Genre
Length37:04
LabelMammoth[1]
ProducerMike Napolitano, Squirrel Nut Zippers[2][3]
Squirrel Nut Zippers chronology
Sold Out
(1997)		 Perennial Favorites
(1998)		 Christmas Caravan
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Robert Christgau(dud)[5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[1]
Entertainment WeeklyC−[6]
Los Angeles Times[7]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[8]
Rolling Stone[9]
Spin4/10[10]

Perennial Favorites is an album by the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers, released in 1998.[11][12]

The album peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard 200.[13] It achieved gold status.[11]

Production

The album was recorded at Ken Mosher's studio in Pittsboro, North Carolina.[3]

Critical reception

AllMusic wrote: "Part of the reason [the Zippers] stand apart from the rest of the neo-swing crowd is that they don't forget that there was a bit of menace in the days of hot jazz -- it wasn't a naive, swinging party, there was some genuine hedonism as well."[4] Entertainment Weekly's review called the band "adept but inconsequential," writing that Katherine Whalen's "sleepy Billie Holiday cadences verge on satire."[6] Spin called the album "self-congratulatory, jokey, essentially heartless cartoon music masquerading as 1920s 'hot jazz'."[10] The Houston Press deemed it "a dozen rock-solid originals that represent the band's finest and most ambitious collection to date."[14]

Track listing

  1. "Suits Are Picking Up the Bill" (Jimbo Mathus) – 3:04
  2. "Low Down Man" (Mathus) – 4:14
  3. "Ghost of Stephen Foster" (Mathus) – 3:32
  4. "Pallin' with Al" (Maxwell) – 2:41
  5. "Fat Cat Keeps Getting Fatter" (Mathus) – 2:47
  6. "Trou Macacq" (Maxwell) – 3:17
  7. "My Drag" (Mathus) – 3:27
  8. "Soon" (Maxwell) – 3:02
  9. "Evening at Lafitte's" (Mathus) – 2:48
  10. "The Kraken" (Maxwell) – 3:40
  11. "That Fascinating Thing" (Mathus) – 2:43
  12. "It's Over" (Mathus) – 1:49
  • Hidden track: "Berceuse Tendres" – 1:16 [between tracks 11 and 12]

Personnel

  • Jimbo Mathus – vocals, trombone, banjo, piano, lead guitar, guitar, percussion, backing vocals
  • Tom Maxwell – vocals, tenor and baritone saxophone, gong, backing vocals, clarinet, rhythm guitar
  • Katharine Whalen – vocals, banjo
  • Ken Mosher – alto and baritone saxophone, guitar, cymbal, Fender Rhodes
  • Je Widenhouse – cornet, trumpet, backing vocals
  • Stuart Cole – bass
  • Don Raleigh – bass
  • Chris Phillips – drums, percussion, steel drum, contraption kit, backing vocals

Additional personnel

  • Andrew Bird – violin, percussion, background vocals
  • Emily Laurance – harp
  • Steve Watson – pedal steel
  • Rick Lassiter – bass
  • Jay Faires – executive producer
  • Steve Balcom – executive producer
  • Clay Walker – Enhanced CD Design, Multimedia Producer, Photography, Video Editor, Video Producer

References

  1. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 688.
  2. ↑ "CNN - Squirrel Nut Zippers defy labels with 'Perennial Favorites' - August 4, 1998". CNN.
  3. 1 2 "Squirrel Nut Zippers Sink Teeth Into New LP". MTV News.
  4. 1 2 "Perennial Favorites - Squirrel Nut Zippers | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  5. ↑ "Robert Christgau: CG: Squirrel Nut Zippers". www.robertchristgau.com.
  6. 1 2 "PERENNIAL FAVORITES;THE DIRTY BOOGIE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Separating the Faddies From the Real Swingin' Daddies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  8. ↑ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1080.
  9. ↑ "Squirrel Nut Zippers: Perennial Favorites : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-02.
  10. 1 2 "Reviews". SPIN. September 21, 1998 – via Google Books.
  11. 1 2 "Squirrel Nut Zippers | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  12. ↑ Joyce, Mike (August 30, 1998). "THE SWING SET'S UPS & DOWNS" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  13. ↑ "Squirrel Nut Zippers". Billboard.
  14. ↑ Ruggiero, Bob (August 6, 1998). "World of Their Own". Houston Press.
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