Southgang – Group Therapy (Release Year – 1992)
In 1992, Southgang released their sophomore effort, Group Therapy. This disc was released towards the end of late 80′s and early 90′s glam metal scene. The introduction of grunge killed any chance of Southgang maintaining any level of success.
It is a real shame too, as Group Therapy is a definite step up from the band’s debut CD, Tainted Angel. The songs on this record have a harder edge, and less of that pop metal sound found on the first album.
These Georgia boys went out in style, as Group Therapy is one great, hard rocking affair. Butch Walker added a bluesier style of guitar to the songs on this record, giving the band a better, more relevant hard rock sound.
The production value on Group Therapy is quite high. This disc was produced by Howard Bensen, who also produced Pretty Boy Floyd’s Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz, and Bang Tango’s Psycho Cafe, and years later Chris Daughtry’s multi-platinum debut.
There truly isn’t a bad song on this record. It rocks from
beginning to end! Some of my favorite cuts on this disc are Water Under the Bridge, Tug of War, and Culture Clash City.
Sadly, this is the band’s last record, and a I am guessing that a reunion is highly unlikely.
Mitch McLee, Jayce Fincher and Butch Walker went on to form the Marvelous 3 after the break up of Southgang, but are no longer together.
Group Therapy has been out of print for years. Used copies turn up from time to time at Amazon.com and Ebay, and well worth picking up. If you don’t own any records by Southgang, this is the one worth searching for.
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. White Trash With Cash
2. Water Under the Bridge
3. Tug of War
4. Fire in Your Body
5. Final Resting Place
6. Legend of C.C. Road
7. Culture Clash City
8. Call
9. Misery
10. My Best Friend’s Girl
11. Ode to Peggy’s
12. Blue Bird Has Landed [The Uncut Trail Mix]
Southgang is:
Jesse Harte – Vocals
Mitch McLee – Drums
Jayce Fincher – Bass
Butch Walker – Guitars
i love southgang.i’ve seen them in concert one time and they rocked,i wish they were still together.I’m from ROME,GA wher Butch and Mitch went to high school.
Wow. This just expands my appreciation for Butch Walker. From hair metal to producing Sevendust and Avril Laveine(sp?). The man is a rock genius.
Oh, and for those of you who missed my reference, Byte the Bullet was Southgang’s name before they got signed.
I had (and probably still have somewhere) a promo cassette single for a song off their first album. That really is too much Southgang to have in my house.
Bah. It may be better than the first album, but the first album was a steaming pile of dung. So that means it’s better than a steaming pile of dung. Quite the accomplishment.
When Byte the Bullet played on the Sunset Strip in 1989, they were an exciting band to see. I went out of my way to catch several of their shows, and they actually stood out in a town where every band was doing the same damned thing.
Of course, in retrospect I realize that they were doing the same thing, too; they were just doing it a little bit better. They epitomized the wave of LA bands who existed not because they genuinely loved the music they were playing, but because they loved the lifestyle that surrounded that music. They were very good at what they did, but they had no integrity. By the time the first Southgang album came out, that fact was pretty clear to see.
By the way, hi Marcelo. How’s the Trans-Siberian Orchestra treating you these days?
I own this in LP and CD
You’re absolutely right. Great album from beginning to end.