Bubba Hernandez & Alex Meixner – Polka Freak Out
This disc pairs Pennsylvania accordionist Alex Meixner, who specializes in various eastern European styles, with former Brave Combo bassist Bubba Hernandez and a Tex-Mex rhythm section. The result is, if not a full-fledged freak-out, a mighty spirited and often weird time just the same, recommended to anyone who shares the Brave Combo penchant for good-humored experimentation and seriously wild musicianship within a rather trashy pop-rock framework. The difference is that while the Combo attack comes straight from the garage, Bubba takes a softer pop approach, as on his stunning overhaul of Lennon/McCartneys If I Fell, which nonetheless slow-burns like a good blues. With a sweet, adaptable tenor that can break hearts, Hernandez handles nearly all the vocals; he also writes skewed contemporary songs such as A Hearts Grand Opening to go along with Meixners interpretations of polka standards such as In Den Bergen. Regardless of what you think you might think of this kind of stuff, it can get way under your skin (all the way down to your funnybone, even) if you give it the chance.