Cataract is the second studio album by American alternative country band the Walkabouts, released on March 1, 1989, through Sub Pop Records.
Critical reception
Harold DeMuir wrote for "Trouser Press Record Guide, 4th Ed." that "The full-length 'Cataract' resonates with rueful Americana on such tracks as 'Whiskey XXX', "Hell's Soup Kitchen" and 'Long Black Veil' (not the traditional song), marking The Walkabouts as a distinctive band with loads of potential.".
In The Walkabouts entry of "The Trouser Press Guide to 90's Rock: The All-New Fifth Edition of The Trouser Press Record Guide" Scott Schinder wrote "Cataract and the six-song Rag & Bone (combined as Rag & Bone Plus Cataract, a single CD bearing the EP's original artwork) are more distinctive, mining a richly shadowy strain of Americana.".
In a review for the Backlash magazine Ransom Edison wrote "... Compared to The Walkabouts' debut album, last year's 'See Beautiful Rattlesnake Gardens,' 'Cataract' is a more refined and consistent effort, pushing the folk influence even further yet exploring a greater variety of musical approaches. ...".
Track listing All tracks written by The Walkabouts.
"Whiskey xxx" – 2:56 "Hell's Soup Kitchen" – 3:24 "Whereabouts Unknown" – 3:01 "End-In-Tow" – 3:23 "Bones of Contention" – 4:38 "Home as Found" – 2:38 "Smokestack" – 3:04 "The Wicked Skipper" – 1:38 "Drille Terriers" – 2:24 "Specimen Days" – 3:44 "Long Black Veil" – 5:01 "Goodbye (to all That)" – 3:05
Release history
Date Label Format Catalog March 1, 1989 Sub Pop Records LP SP031 April 4, 1990 Glitterhouse Records CD (reissue with EP Rag & Bone) GR 0085
Personnel
Michael Wells – bass, harmonica Carla Torgerson – vocals, guitar, keyboard, cello, percussion Grant Eckman – drums, percussion Chris Eckman – vocals, guitars, mountain dulcimer, tapes
Additional musicians
Jonathan Siegel – violin on "Whereabouts Unknown" Terry Lee Hale – slide guitar on "Home as Found" Carl Miller – trombone on "Smokestack" Liv Torgerson – backup vocals on "Drille Terriers"
Technical personnel
Ed Brooks – production, engineering Tony Kroes – production, engineering The Walkabouts – production
Additional personnel
William Forsythe – cover photo "Eddy and Dashdown", September 23, 1933 Ben Thompson – cover design
References