PRESS for "Roots In Gasoline"

"It should be noted upfront that after seeing the dynamic duo at Redrum, they instantly became one of my favorite bands. This review may sound a little fanboyish as a result, but it's an earned admiration. Scouts Honor mixes blues and rock into an amalgamation I can only describe as heavy-blues. But to sum them up so succinctly is an injustice. The depth of the songwriting and the diversity of music contained in this gem belie the relatively few years of its creators. It's Jack White at his best and worst with a lot less art and a lot more beers in him; loud, sincere, and pissed off. Jared Grabb is what Jack hopes to be when he grows up. Lyrically, Jared moves back and forth from float like a butterfly metaphor "Writing laws like prescriptions, trying to find a cure for capitalism, because money don't make moral decisions." to sting like a bee bluntness "I've got a drunk, abusive husband, she says with a laugh. Life just sucks..." with an ease that would have made Casius himself jealous. Holding down the skins duty in a two piece outfit is no small task, and Tom Satterfield handles it like a giant. Simultaneously holding down the fort rhythmically and adding an engrossing second layer to Jared's driving guitar, Tom knows when not to play, and hits the mark dead on when it's time to lay it down. At the end of Prison Bars (one of the heaviest damn songs I've heard in a long time) a lesser drummer would have dropped back into a blast beat. Not Tom, he holds it steady, powering through to the end. Hear how they wrap it up quick? Feel that knot in your stomach begging for more? Yeah, that's how you write music. The songs are raw and exposed, the way rock n roll is supposed to be. I could go on like this for pages on end, but I think you get the idea. You need to see this band. You need to buy this album, and listen to it on repeat for about two weeks straight, seriously." - Justin at So Many Bands Dot Net

"Scouts Honor are a duo consisting of a drummer/vocalist and guitarist, and though there's definitely a stripped-down side to their sound, the still make a pretty big racket for just two guys. The combination of gritty punk rock sensibility and more country-influenced vocals and lyrics reminds me pretty immediately of the first Against Me! recordings. But there's actually a bit more to it than that. The angry punk/country edge is present in every song, though they expand it a surprising amount for only two guys and a debut record. They show off an engagingly minimal side on "Devil Between," then a downright beautiful ballad on "Prescription Medicine," the very next song. They're back to back, but could honestly be on different records or even come from different bands. But the magic of Scouts Honor isn't just in their versatility, but the fact that they pull off every extreme really well. It all culminates on "Alms" which brings together everything on the record into one soaring chorus that's simultaneuosly the most heart-wrenchingly melodic and aggressive moment on the record. The combination of Southern soul and Midwestern grit is impressive both in its overall proficiency and its genre bending. Fans of Against Me!, old Avail, or even Wilco will find something well worthwhile on Roots In Gasoline." - New Scheme #12

"I like any band where drumming is extremely prominent and I dig this duo's flip flopping between powerful, almost violent aggression and pretty Country-ish sounds (often with the same line, as on 'Lovable Mama' where pleasant cowboy music is attacked by Black Flag vocals). Scouts this out." - Roctober #40

"If Glenn Danzig ever relocated to the Midwest, got a job as a mechanic and bought a cowboy hat for the weekends, he would have recorded this album. Roots In Gasoline boils down the Midwestern experience in 11 tight compositions. Affectionately referred to as screamo, Scouts Honor also infuses country into their tales of desperation to the point of borderline rock-a-billy. This is about working in the cold dirt with heavy machinery and cherishing a beer when your 14 hour workday has let you go. Scouts Honor have honed both of their instruments to their full, hard potential and their minimalism brings their picture even more into focus. 2 hard working guys who seem to know first-hand how a small town can kill you if you don’t kill it first. The use of additional musicians, thicker strings and post-production fancies to this guitar-drum equation would dilute their ‘Us vs. Them’ attitude. Their grit and ferocity shows through perfectly with good musicianship and plain truth lyrics. “There were rumors that the miners were to rise up. All the farmers knew, but the farmers couldn’t give a fuck. Because, they been raped too.” Words like this from “Other Side Of Town” drop you in the middle of a wrench fight with only your skin and teeth to help fend off the local bitters. Scouts Honor is a damn fine example of substance over appearance." - JJ in Impose Magazine #18

"#9 Album in Top 10 Records of 2005. - Bands that get compared to Hot Water Music and Against Me! have really been catching my ear lately. All of these bands are so good, and so honest that you can't help but love them. Scout's Honor is a bit more raw than the previously mentioned bands, but that works in their favor." - The Playlist Dot Net

"Roots In Gasoline is a cross-country road trip making half its stops in roadside dives full of mechanical bulls and cowboy hats, and the other half in decrepit basements with bad ventilation and a mass of sweaty, screaming kids. It is a blue-collar declaration carved into the bar at some box-sized watering hole that stands across the street from bright and gaudy marquees promoting the next big thing. It is a two-man protest rooted in frustration and stated with conviction. But more than anything else, Roots In Gasoline is a batch of honest rock songs.

"Scouts Honor is Jared Grabb on guitar and vocals and Tom “Atomic” Satterfield on drums and backing vocals. Throughout Roots In Gasoline the two cling to bits of Americana and back porch aesthetics while touching on everything from acoustic blues numbers (“Roots In Gasoline,” “Devil Between”), to Against Me!-styled punk (“Cost Of Living,” “Lovable Mama”), and straight-up hard rock (“Other Side Of Town,” “Better Life”). While this may seem like the album would come off disjointed, it doesn’t. Scouts Honor have the ability to tie together a host of musical variables with strong vocals, and a keen storytelling ability in order to make them their own.

"Jared Grabb’s gruff voice can shift from hushed reflections to defiant screams with no problem as he channels both Ian MacKaye and Tom Gabel. Instead of hiding behind production, he lets it all come out. His melodies might not be “stuck in your head” caliber, but you will never doubt Grabb’s sincerity.

"Lyrically, Scouts Honor focus on political issues, but by connecting social themes to personal narratives the words never come off preachy or heavy-handed. A range of topics are covered over the course of the album including workers’ rights, the values of a small town, and using a system of oppressive laws to keep capitalism alive and well.

"While Roots In Gasoline is passionate, diverse, and interesting, it still has its problems. Some of the songs seem to go on for a bit too long as added parts just clutter the structure. Also, “Call And Response,” the album’s all-a cappella closing track, seems out of place after ten rock-based songs, thanks to its gospel-styled singing. Finally, there is Grabb’s simplistic diction. At times it is endearing and appropriate because of its everyman quality, but at other points it just leads to repetition and predictable lines." - Matt Whelihan at Punk New Dot Org

"I got really excited when I read the press release comparing Scout's Honor to bands like Against Me! and Hot Water Music, as I'm a huge fan of both bands. I listened to the first song and was pretty disappointed, as I didn't think the song was that good. Lucky for me, I kept listening because the rest of the album is totally killer.

"I do hear bit of Against Me! (more along the lines of their laid back songs) and How Water Music throughout this album, but they have taken influences from those two bands and molded it together wtih country, bluegrass and hardcore as well (not hardcore per se, but there's an inherent heavieness in their music). They mesh these sounds together well, which makes for some great music (excpet the first song, but the rest of the album makes up for that).

"I'm pretty blown away by this album. Atomic Satterfield and Jared Grabb are really talented songwriters and musicans. I expect to see them on No Idea or an even bigger label in the near future (or at least become a well known name in the punk community)." - RF at The Playlist Dot Net

"Hearing a duo is always exciting. I like to hear what exactly only two men can do; how full they can sound. Better yet, Scouts Honor doesn’t disappoint! They have blended together a unique taste of indie rock, country, and rock’n’roll. As a duo they do every song justice, and not once did I say, “This sounds empty!” Their choice of song structure is quite refreshing, and isn’t some consistent chords with a few high pitched vocals. They use their more hardcore / heavy indie sound for a chorus, and then they will turn around and use a really “Gitty Up!” country progression for the verse. This truly is one of those records you just have to hear to understand it. Scouts Honor has my seal of approval, go check it out! Rating: 4/5" - Drew at Ink Drinker Dot Net

"There is no way I can describe this group without making it sound bad. But the thing is, Scout’s Honor is awesome! Two guys come together to create music that strides the line somewhere between blues and country folk and all-out punk rock. I hate to use this as an example, because I’m not really into them at all, but I guess you could say this sounds a little like Against Me. They know how to break it down into simple slide guitar riffs topped by anthemic choruses, and in the next song rage with punk rock speed and gravely breakdowns. I’m way into it simply because I haven’t heard a band do something like this. There’s really no way for me to do this justice other than recommending you to go and check it out for yourself." - Hanging Hex

"Let me start off by mentioning that this brand of music isn't something I regularly listen to, but is something I enjoy as a break from the consistent intensity of hardcore and metal. While I'm not especially well-seasoned in this field of rock n' roll, Scouts Honor's sound can be summed up as a mellow crossover of punk and indie rock.

"I do immensely enjoy a number of relatively calm bands, such as Murder By Death and Fugazi. Both of those groups have a particularly unique shtick and style that draws my attention to them and keeps me interested. Scouts Honor are pretty stripped down and straightforward, yet the band and Roots In Gasoline still manage to keep my interest piqued most of the time.

"Roots In Gasoline is simply comprised of acoustic and clean guitar parts, bare-bones drumming patterns, and some honest lyrics. The two fellows that make up Scouts Honor, Tom "Atomic" Shatterfield and Jared Grabb, are simply jamming and having a good time, and one can feel such a quality through their recorded music. These guys are honest and emotional in what they do.

"I would assume a band like this would want their lyrics to be a strong point since the vocals are so prevalent. Well, Scouts Honor are quite simplistic in their lyrics, yet very honest and sensible. While the lyrics are far from poetic, listeners should be able to very well and understand the meaning without having to deal with clichés. Otherwise, I don't have much to say about this disc. It's quite enjoyable; simple yet intelligent, and honest, stripped-down indie rock. If you want to chill out with some less than challenging music, check out Roots In Gasoline." - Drew Walton at Geek Burger Dot Com

"Top 5 Album - Approaching punk via a more bluesy, rootsy route isn't a new approach. But sometimes it's all about conviction and execution. Roots in Gasoline is soulful and primal, and - when called for - it flat out rocks." - Ben Kreider at All Access