this cd is the most fun. i first saw these fellas at my pal rachael's wedding where they did the best version of "Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps" since Nat King Cole. it's fun music, but the lyrics are seriously good. nothing fluffy about it. it's smart, fun, funny, and i wish it were my boyfriend.

These city boys manage what little talents they have in a way that is sure to make people smile and laugh. If nothing else, they make the listener happy not to be in their shoes. Indeed, the world of the Shut-Ins appears to be a rather homely one, and their music is not the kind that pretty young things will likely dance to. Yet, listen a little deeper to their laments and one hears the undertones of substance, style, and rich musical traditions. Add some interesting lyrics and a lead ukelele to that mix, and you have a unique approach to American folk music. The Shut-Ins certainly aren't your average good ole boys, and this reviewer thinks that is probably a good thing.

And until somebody proves otherwise, the Bay Area's Shut-Ins, are the world's greatest hulabilly band. And because greatness calls for great deeds, those plucky purveyors of everything good about Memphis and Hawaii are releasing their second CD, "Shut-Ins Sing Songs of Pain and Joy." --Jose Segue

The Shut-Ins Sing Songs of Pain and Joy Shut-ins Records San Francisco has long been a bastion of roots music aficionados and performers. The main challenge of this pursuit seems to be the tenacity of any given artist in unearthing nuggets from the rich vein of the arcane underpinnings of popular music. San Francisco's own Shut-Ins, have proven to be qualified miners of many a hidden chestnut buried in the archives of musical Americana. John Poultney and Mike Roper began their archival odyssey pursuing gems from the vast repertoire of country music legends like the Louvin Brothers, perhaps the Grand Ole Opry's greatest exponents of "close-harmony" singing. And much like the Louvin Brothers whose imprint allowed them to "own" a song with their signature sound, the Shut-Ins have managed to come awfully close to burning their tunes into the minds of those willing to give their latest CD a spin. The 18-song effort from this witty quintet showcases the musical madness of singer/guitar player, John Poultney, ukulele/vocal stylist Mike Roper, drummer Corey Losee, upright bassist Tom Drohan and the stellar guitar work of Rick Hendricks. The disc serves up a smorgasbord of humorous and historically intriguing chestnuts with several Louvin Brothers featured classics, twang-worthy tunes from Buck Owens, a couple of Carter Family gems, plenty of ukulele and terrific steel guitar Hawiaana in a "hula-billy" style, old-time-ified/bastardized interpretations of carefully chosen vintage rock tunes from Blondie and NRBQ and a sprinkling of Tin Pan Alley from the likes of Gus Kahn. This unique combination evokes a sonic American tapestry as viewed through the warped and whiskey-addled minds of a bunch of hip San Francisco music junkies. Adding to the hilarity is a 10-minute ghost track, which spins only if you keep the disc running when the music appears to have concluded. This special feature provides booze-fueled out-takes from a late night recording session covering the 1941 Inkspot's hit, "I Don't Want to Set the World On Fire." This new Shut-Ins effort is on par with the lofty energy and twinkle-eyed hi-jinx of any given live performance by this band of jocular troubadours. Seek out Sing Songs of Pain and Joy if you like a dab of country music history and a dollop of winsome humor with your hula-billy music. --Ted Silverman