Asylum Street Spankers - What? And Give Up Show Biz? (2008)

"Dedicated to acoustic instrumentation, but mischievously unorthodox in every other way, this octet from Austin, Tex., is equal parts Betty Boop, the Marx Brothers and John Belushi, reveling in moony musical-saw solos as well as the most adolescent vulgarities." -- The New York Times, 1/15/2008

"Since the Austin, Texas-bred Asylum Street Spankers have always had more in common with old-school vaudeville than with the doctrinaire alt-country that dominates their hometown, it's not too surprising that they'd try their collective hand at an old-school, traveling-circus styled revue. What is surprising is how cleverly and seamlessly the ensemble managed to weave its pre-existing material into a narrative tapestry that conjured up images of Kinky Friedman, Ray Stevens and the Firesign Theater without seeming like a pastiche of these influences." -- Variety, 1/14/2008

"The Austin collective tapdances on the thin line between stunning virtuosity and goofy farce, an eight-person dervish of washboard / dobro / harmonica / clarinet / singing saw / upright bass / violin / etc., minimally amplified for maximum impact..." -- The Village Voice, 1/11/2008

There are few acts today as deliciously entertaining in concert, which is why this two-disc package documenting their live set is the ultimate Spankers release. And as much fun as a barrel of weed-toking, wisecracking musical monkeys. -- Blurt, January 19, 2009