Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow

Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow
Studio album by
the Judybats
Released1992
StudioBearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York
GenreJangle pop, alternative rock
Length47:20
LabelSire
ProducerRichard Gottehrer, Jeffrey Lesser
The Judybats chronology
Native Son
(1991) 		Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow
(1992) 		Pain Makes You Beautiful
(1993)

Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow is the second album by the American band the Judybats, released in 1992 by Sire Records.[1] The single "Saturday" peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[2]

Production and promotion

Recorded in the summer of 1991, the album was produced by Richard Gottehrer and Jeffrey Lesser.[3][4] Frontman Jeff Heiskell considered most of the songs to be autobiographical.[5] The album also includes a cover of the Kinks' "Animal Farm".[6] The band had attempted to recruit Kate Pierson of the B-52's to sing on "Poor Bruised World" but were rejected by her agent, who felt she was "overexposed" at the time.[7]

A music video was made for "Is Anything". The band opened for the Original Sins on several tour dates.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
The Indianapolis Star[10]

The Indianapolis Star stated: "The JudyBats' breezy, guitar-driven music is a 75-degree, sunny April day; its lyrics a lonely November in singer Jeff Heiskell's soul."[10] The Washington Post wrote that "what really offsets Heiskell's dolorous, if often original and intriguing, lyrics are the band's abundant energy, shimmering harmonies and contagious choruses."[11]

The Chicago Tribune considered the album to be "filled with vaguely arty but ultimately rather meaningless jangly guitar pop."[12] The San Antonio Express-News opined that it "has a harder edge that the debut, though there is still plenty of guitar jangle."[13]

Track listing

All music by the Judybats, lyrics by Jeff Heiskell, except where otherwise indicated.

  1. "Our Story" – 4:34
  2. "She's Sad She Said" – 3:18
  3. "How It Is" – 4:27
  4. "Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow" – 4:06
  5. "Margot Known as Missy" – 3:24
  6. "Witches' Night" – 6:26
  7. "Is Anything" – 2:55
  8. "Poor Bruised World" – 3:04
  9. "Animal Farm" (Ray Davies) – 3:34
  10. "Saturday" – 3:31
  11. "Lullaby~Weren't We Wild" – 4:26
  12. "When Things Get Slow Around Here" – 3:42

Personnel

The Judybats

  • Jeff Heiskell – lead vocals
  • Ed Winters – electric guitars
  • Peg Hambright – keyboards, violin, vocals
  • Timothy Stutz – bass guitar
  • Johnny Sughrue – acoustic guitar, vocals
  • Kevin Jarvis – drums & percussion

Technical

References

  1. ^ "SXSW Schedule Series". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. 12 Mar 1992. p. 14.
  2. ^ "The Judybats Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts".
  3. ^ Carlson, Kevin M. (January 9, 1992). "JudyBats fly ever closer to the top". The Washington Times. p. M2.
  4. ^ "Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow by the Judybats". Billboard. 104 (10): 46. Mar 7, 1992.
  5. ^ Larsen, David (April 4, 1992). "JudyBats take on a personal tone". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L6.
  6. ^ Boehm, Mike (23 Apr 1992). "Where the Mild Things Are". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  7. ^ Edelstein, Marc (January 16, 2023). "Jeff Heiskell Discusses the Judybats' Exquisite 'Pain Makes You Beautiful' at 30". PopMatters. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Righi, Len (10 Apr 1992). "ORIGINAL SINS TO START NATIONAL TOUR". The Morning Call. p. D7.
  9. ^ Demalon, Tom. Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow at AllMusic
  10. ^ a b Allan, Marc D. (13 Mar 1992). "The JudyBats Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow". The Indianapolis Star. p. D4.
  11. ^ Joyce, Mike (4 Mar 1992). "Rock That's Well-Read". The Washington Post. p. C7.
  12. ^ Heim, Chris (13 Mar 1992). "The JudyBats and Paleface". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. Q.
  13. ^ "Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow". San Antonio Express-News. March 6, 1992. p. 9D.