REVIEWS!!

No Brains Zine May, 2006
The Bloody Tears are new refreshment and big surprise on Licorice Tree Records, Austin, Texas. Licorice Tree Records is new label and all they releases so far were really top stuff, including this CD. OK, now few words about The Bloody Tears. It's some kind of garage punk with strong r'n'b roots, songs are fast played really dirty with great r'n'b garage guitar sound, harp, organ and great vocal. If you expect pure neo 60s sound maybe you will be disappointed, they go more into direction of UK pub rock bands like Dr. Feelgood, early 9 Below Zero improved with great American souly garage sound. Fantastic band for smoky clubs where you can get drunk from gallons of beer. 12 songs, here and there some covers. All great. Get this CD as soon as possible and have real good time with The Bloody Tears!

ShinDig Magazine
The Bloody Tears
Downhanded (Licorice Tree)

On the CD cover a girl is putting on her lipstick ready to go out. Open the booklet and she has discarded her shoes so she can Swim, Watusi and Boogaloo across the dance floor! This is an 'Austin dance party' from a six-piece band of experienced local musicians from several other bands, a really swingin' mix of classic '60s style soul, R&B and pop. This is easily the most impressive release so far from local Austin label Licorice Tree records. The Tears sound like a storming live outfit, as they immediately set feet tapping and hips shaking. The band immediately set their party cards on the table with a raucous cover of 'C'mon Up'. There is a very strong mix of energetic soul and pop covers, such as 'C'mon and Swim', mixed with originals by lead singer and leader Eric Makowski. Some of his tunes, such as 'Talkin' With Your Baby' sound like obscure Arthur Alexander numbers, but aren't! The playing is really assured, with generous helpings of organ and harmonica as well as two guitars. What, you still aren't out on the floor?

 

Slug Mag - June, 2005

Jared Soper
The Bloody Tears
Downhanded (Licorice Tree)

The Bloody Tears = 68 Comeback + The Deadly Snakes + The Lyres
I’m usually quite suspicious of any record sporting some porn-star-looking broad on the cover. It makes me think I’m about to listen to some ultra-tough jock rock like Drowning Pool or Saliva (remember them?). But as it turns out, The Bloody Tears are nothing of the kind (thankfully). As evident from the first track onwards, this Texas outfit have listened to their fair share of barnstormin’ 50s and 60s R&B. This is a good Saturday night party record very much in the tradition of fine platters by Don Covay, Richard Berry, and Les Sexareenos. There is some fine instrumentation on here complete with a Hammond organ, which definitely adds to things, along with some fine Yardbirds-style harp-blowing. So aside from the awful cover and stupid name, The Bloody Tears offer up a pretty decent album here with Downhanded. (Oh, yeah, it was produced by Jim Diamond, too.)

Ear Candy Magazine- May, 2005

J.R. Oliver
The Bloody Tears
Downhanded (Licorice Tree)

This is a big fat-ass Rawk n' Soul album! It's just what the doctor ordered. I've played the hell out of this disc ever since it came in the mail. The Bloody Tears mix sixties and seventies soul with the sweaty garage intensity of the Standells, Count Five and Chocolate Watchband then throw in a proper amount of punk bravado to boot. This is a party album, plain and simple. Even if you're alone with a six-pack I guarantee you'll be shakin' your ass and singing along before the third song. Highly recommended!

 

Under The Volcano - May, 2005

Rotgut Roger Moser
The Bloody Tears
Downhanded (Licorice Tree)

If I didn't have the press release telling me differently, I would've sworn up and down that Downhanded was recorded for the Stax label, circa 1966, by a bunch of greasy-haired swamp rats fuelled on filter-less cigarettes, 180-proof homemade hooch, and lots of lowdown dirty desires. Yep, The Bloody Tears sound like they were born in a dilapidated, tin-roofed shotgun shack in the backwaters of the Mississippi Delta and raised in a smoky pool hall on the wrong side of the tracks in Memphis. They raucously invoke a musical form steeped deep in Southern-boogie Garage, hellfire-and-brimstone Gospel, and sleazy sex-sweaty R&B. With Downhanded loudly blaring throughout the Moser household, I can't help but wanna shimmy and shake between the sheets with my gal all night long. The Bloody Tears have grandly brought out the beast in me!

 

Maximum Rock 'n' Roll - May, 2005

Jeff Heermann
The Bloody Tears
Downhanded (Licorice Tree)

Painful name, catchy music.  Starts off with a cover of "C'mon Up" and then lurches into a punchy CD of sorta-borderline 60-ish Hammond organ rock with the requisite punkliness in place.  Original it ain't, but I have a weakness for such things.

Maximum Rock 'n' Roll Top Ten, May 2005

1. The Bloody Tears - Downhanded......

Shredding Paper - July, 2005
Bloody Tears - “Downhanded” CD 12/40:51
Oh yeah, this is Austin, Texas fueled. Blues and r’n’b inspired party music, I can just feel the sweat. Crazy harmonica, Hammond organ, and hip shaking beats. If you don’t move your body while listening to this, then you’re dead. Reminds me of The Woggles (one of the hardest working bands in the business). Good rockin’ soul. Standout tracks include “Talkin’ With Your Baby”, “Glad You’re Gone” “Snooks Thing” and “I Got a Good Thing Going”. “C’mon Up” is a Rascals cover. “Treat her Like a Lady” is a rocking Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose cover. Laura
@ www.licoricetree.com

Carbon 14 - July, 2005