Q magazine
October 1996

THE V-ROYS Just Add Ice
Elegantly Tailored Country Rock

Signed to Steve Earle's E-squared
label in America and soon to be
heard backing the former scourge
of Nashville's South Side on a
version of I'm in The Jailhouse Now
(recorded for bob Dylan's long-
awaited Jimmie Rodgers tribute
album). Knoxville, Tennessee's V-
roys are cut from much the same -
albiet rather more elegantly tailored
cloth as early '80's country rock
acolytes Jason & the Scorchers
and the True Believers. Similarly
resisting the temptation to reroute
their brash and breezy sound
through Music Row's redoubtable
studio machine. The V-roys rely
instead on the ministrations of their
label boss (whose own circuitous
route to pristine simplicity was
completed with this year's I'm
Alright album). frosting their
spartan two guitars, bass and
drums sound with harmonies from
co-vocalists Scott Miller and Mike
Harrison. Rockabilly (Wind Down,
Cry), plagent balladry (Pounding
Heart, Goodnight Loser) and some
well-disciplined goofing off (Cold
Beer, Hello) all feature prominently
on a debut served up exhilaratingly
neat * * *
Bill Prince