Album Notes

Romp to Hypertonics' rockabilly beat -- The music is a rowdy, rousing, fun-filled hybrid of rock and roll, hillbilly and R&B. Let's live up a rockabilly romp with Jem Crossland and The Hypertonics. This three-piece gang of roots rockers includes Crossland on vocals/guitar, John Marlow on drums and Chipps Baker on saxophone/bass.
The members have quickly hopped and bopped into their status as Charlotte, NC area favorites. The band describes its sound as "popabilly" and there's no denying the streak of upbeat vibes. In fact, the band's recent CD is titled "Rumblin '88" a jukin', jivin' testament to that party rock perspective. Song titles like "Uranium Rock," "Lovin' Touch" and "Throwin' Up all Night" reveal more of the tale. Looser than Buddy Holly with a twist of Squirrel Nut Zippers, The Hypertonics are a tutti-frutti "be bop a lula" bunch of cool cats mixing some old-school twang with an early rock "thang." Keep the big beat alive and make the scene with the Hypertonics!


While Jem Crossland wasn't born on American soil, he does a fine job of synthesizing this country's early music history: namely, folks like Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Bill Haley. While Haley had "His Comets," Crossland boasts the capable Hypertonics. Indeed, Crossland is able to look at this country's roots music as only an outside eye can: clearly, affectionately, and with an uncanny purity that comes from always having been exposed to the good stuff.

Be sure to catch Jem Crossland & The Hypertonics. They're more from the traditional side of rockabilly, but it makes for a great warm-up for those dancin' shoes.