Terry
Anderson and The Olympic Ass-Kickin Team
Bio
Known mostly for
its tobacco, basketball and barbecue,
In a world of lullaby rock and sensitive songwriter dude, a good ‘ol dose of Rock and Roll is needed every once in a while to remind you why the good Lord gave you feet…for dancin’!
…and
that’s courtesy of
Reviews of the new CD "Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass Kickin Team"
January, 2006: The Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT
TERRY ANDERSON AND
THE OLYMPIC ASS-KICKIN' TEAM.
Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe never released a follow-up to their band
Rockpile's fantastic 1980 album "Seconds of Pleasure," but you could
be
forgiven for thinking that "Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass-Kickin'
Team"
was, in actuality, Rockpile's long-lost sophomore disc.
Anderson also served time in the mid '90s with
the similarly -rocking
Yayhoos, and wrote "Battleship Chains" (made semi-famous by the
Georgia
Satellites), so he knows his roots rock. Whether performing
straightforward
numbers such as "Hi'N Dry" and "Can't Get the One You Want,"
goofy tunes
about drinking ("Feel a Drunk Comin" On,"
"Thunderbird") or mid-tempo love
songs that aren't schmaltzy ("Raindrops," "Inez"), Anderson
proves he's
earned his slot on the Ass-Kickin' team.
And with help from Walter Clevenger, Dan Baird, Caitlin
Cary and Al
Anderson (no relation), "Olympic Ass-kickin' Team" is a compendium of
cult-level-famous roots rockers and power poppers (yes, that's a
compliment). Bouncy, silly, rocking-basically, just plain old fun-
"Terry
Anderson and the Olympic Ass-Kickin' Team" is an unadulterated roots-rock
gem. Edmunds and Lowe would be proud.
-Stephen Haag
January, 2006: AMP Magazine
Remember rock and
roll? I mean REAL rock and roll? Terry Anderson does. Anderson writes songs that
recall the halcyon days of bands such as the Faces, Creedence Clearwater
Revival, and Rockpile. Three chords, a hook, and words worthy of Chuck Berry,
John Fogerty, or John Prine are the primary quality ingredients of an Anderson
tune. You know Anderson best from his success penning songs for the Georgia
Satellites ("Battleship Chains") or ex-Sat Dan Baird ("I Love You
Period"), but TA the singer/songwriter has now released four
"official" long players, all of which are highly recommended. The
newest finds him fronting his own band, the Olympic Ass-Kickin' team. Dig
"Sunday Dress," the BEST Faces tune the Faces never recorded, or
"Purple GTO," an automotive love song that Springsteen would lust
after. Then again, Bruce could lust after most of the tunes on this disc. I
count Terry Anderson as one of America's very best singer/songwriters and after
one listen to this record, you will too.
- John Holcomb
November, 2005: No Depression Magazine;
Terry Anderson &
The Olympic Ass-Kickin’ Team
Self-titled (Doublenaught).
Making straight-ahead rock isn’t rocket science. It’s breaking into the lab, mixing the contents of a couple test tubes, and trying not to blow shit up. And it’s the kind of science that singer/songwriter/drummer Terry Anderson has been excelling at for close to 30 years, with co-starring roles in various North Carolina bands and three strong solo releases to his credit. These days he leads his own Olympic Ass-Kickin’ Team, whose consistently entertaining debut combines the southern-fried Face-isms of the Georgia Satellites, the pile-driving rock of Rockpile, and the scruffy heart of midtempo NRBQ—three reference points that Anderson comes by honestly. He plays with ex-Satellite Dan Baird in the Yayhoos. He frequently writes with former NRBQer Al Anderson (their collaboration “You Know Me” shines here. And well, he really likes Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe. When an album sports “Feel A Drunk Comin’ On” and “Thunderbird” (the booze not the car), you’re forgiven for expecting the album-closing “Rehab” to also be a goof. Instead, it’s an intervention cast as a sing-along, with fellow scientists Walter Clevenger and bassist/producer Jack Cornell among those swapping verses.
Terry
Anderson & The Olympic Ass-Kickin' Team - Doublenaught Records - Reviewed by
Andy Riggs 8/10
Terry Anderson (drums &
vocals) leads The Olympic Ass Kickin' Team, an outfit that's released it's first
album on Dreadnaught Records, in support is Jack Cornell on bass and vocals,
Dave Bartholomew, Scotty Miller & Greg Rice plus other luminaries such
Caitlin Cary (ex Whiskeytown), pop master Jamie Hoover, Dan Baird, Eric Ambel
and Walter Clevenger. This self titled debut rocks along in traditional fashion
reminiscent of the Georgia Satellites, Joe Walsh, The Backsliders, Nick Lowe,
Dave Edmunds & The Yahoos. Most of the songs rock along as you'd expect with
the star-studded personnel on hand. As the band suggest there's much Ass-Kickin',
but also tucked away on the record is the more reflective 'Raindrops' which
slows down the pace and wouldn't be out of place on any Tom Petty record. On
'$100 a week' there's a country sing along, on 'Inez' we have a The Travel
Wilburys type song with it's tongue in cheek humour - whilst tracing familiar
territory it's handled with gusto. On the last track Jamie Hoover on mandolin,
Caitlin Cary on violin join Terry Anderson and numerous others on the very funny
'Rehab' - the sign of a good record, it's over too soon - find the OAKT where
you can. Without a duff song there's much fun to be had with this record, my Ass
truly kicked.....
Holland Love: November, 2005;
Get
happy in two easy steps!
1. Buy Terry Anderson & The Olympic Ass Kickin' Team
2. Put CD in player and listen.
Really, Terry, this is my first acquaintance with your band and I have to say:
This is the best new music I've heard in months! Now I know from reading your
blog that sometimes you experience your songwriting as a curse, but believe me,
it's a Godgiven blessing!
I can't really describe why I feel so good when listening to your music but it
sure makes me happy. And some of those songs, especially 'You know me', I can't
get out of my head - and I like it! Other personal highlights: 'Raindrops' is a
song that Tom Petty wishes he had written. After hearing '$ 100 a week' I'm sure
that Elvis lives. And 'Rehab' is the most happy singalong I've heard since the
Sats 'Another Chance' -dispite the theme (that goes for both songs of course)
:-) With some of your songs I get the feeling I've heard it before - which is a
major recommendation, in my case. Those are the best, in my opinion.
Bumpershot.com Review, November 2005:
Terry
Anderson And The Olympic Ass-Kickin’ Team – (Doublenaught Records)
Terry Anderson has one of the noblest agendas in music. He just wants to rock
and roll, folks. And that’s what he and his “team” do all over this CD.
Taking their cues from the likes of Rockpile, Faces, NRBQ, and all those bands
that deserve to be on every jukebox coast-to-coast, Anderson and his Olympian
band have mastered the art of making good-time music. Anderson gets right down
to business on the opening shot of “Can’t Get The One You Want”, a great
fast-talkin’ boogie that gets your foot tappin’ and “You Know Me” with
its classic chugging rhythm. Anderson reunites with Yayhoo pals Dan Baird and
Eric “Roscoe” Ambel on “Purple GTO”, which easily could have been on a
Georgia Satellites album, while songs like the sweet “Inez” and “Sunday
Dress” show that Anderson and his Team can deliver a pop song (think Al
Anderson-penned NRBQ songs like “Riding In My Car” – actually, pal Al
co-wrote “You Know Me” with our Terry) that should be coming out of every
rock and roll radio station coast-to-coast. Further diversions come in the way
of the country-flavoured “$100 A Week” and the plea for a loved one to go to
“Rehab”. Here, Jamie Hoover and Caitlin Cary help out on a song that sounds
like an intervention where the accusers are going to step out for a drink or two
afterwards thanks to its back porch stomp. Throughout the set, Anderson enjoys
the support of some fine players - as in guitarist Roger Gupton, bassist Jack
Cornell (who produced the CD as well) and a few guests that dropped by for a
song or two. It comes off as if “there’s a party at Anderson’s place”
and the lethargic need not attend.
This isn’t anything new for Anderson, who has put out some great music over
the years (if there’s a bad Anderson CD, I haven’t heard it) under his own
name, and as a member of The Yayhoos. But note that he’s no mere “retro”
act – there’s enough personality on these tunes to make them stand out.
Anderson is achingly sentimental about rock and roll and, ironically enough,
ends up sounding like a stranger in a strange land in today’s musical climate.
It’s just that rock and roll’s original formula suits Anderson just fine,
thank you.
Babysue.com Review; October 2005:
Terry
Anderson and the Olympic Ass-Kickin Team - Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass-Kickin
Team (CD, Double Naught, Pop/rock)
Good solid pop/rock from Raleigh, North Carolina-based Terry Anderson and the
Olympic Ass-Kickin Team. This is a really slick little album that, if marketed
with some bucks, could catch on in a big way with a mighty big crowd. Unlike a
lot of underground bands, these five fellows play accessible music. Each song
sounds like it could be a hit...and they're all delivered with such positive
energy and style that you can't help but be affected. The songs are catchy and
simple, and seasoned with intelligent hooks and excellent lyrics. Instant
classics include "Can't Get the One You Want," "You Know
Me," "Raindrops," "Check Please," and
"Rehab." The disc is packaged in a beautiful digipak sleeve and
includes a mini-poster with lyrics on the back. Great music from a great band.
(Rating: 5+)
(this is
fun!!)
Anderson
one, Terry and the Olympic ASS Kickin team - same [ 2005 ] Rock'n roll can make
so much fun! Dan Baird's of old buddies, that in the broadest sense the Georgia
satellite it vapor circle which can be assigned, great Drummer, singer and
Songwriter Terry Anderson one (at that time "Battleship chain" or also
the well-known bay RD standard "I love you by iodine" composed the
Satellites Kracher) is back with a new troop of first-class skirt Kumpane, the
great "Olympic ASS Kickin team" (what a wonderful name) and shows with
his dragging along, new disk so some tired skirt veteran, which it is called a
spraying to celebrate fulminante Rock'n roll party. Which for a drive! There
powerfully momentum comes into the Bude! One can keep the feet practically to no
second quiet! This "ASS Kickin ' team" from North Carolina slams us 13
fantastische, compact, concise Songs without each weak point around the ears,
whose level is really considerable! The mood is simply, straightforward and
nevertheless uncommonly creatively, puts for more fully noticeable humor! The
musicians are beyond each doubt, everything the two guitarists Scotty Miller and
"Big Daddy" Dave Batholomew, the Songwriting are exzellent in front
(all TRACKS originate from Terry's feather/spring) and the pieces are themselves
more fully more splendourful, deeply in the gehoergaengen of determining
melodies, which pack one simply! In addition a mad sound and one merciless on
the point brought, perfect production of Terry's way companion of many years
Jack Cornell (plays the bass on this album also)! The influences, which one
finds in this mood, hand the Countryrock, the British Pubrock of the seventies,
from the classical guitar root skirt over the Southern skirt, up to the pure old
time Rock'n roll; from people like the Faces, the Rolling Stones over the
Georgia Satellites, the Yayhoos, Brinsley black, NRBQ, Rockpile and Dave Edmund
(Rick Cornell, a reporter of the "Independent" from Raleigh/NC
designates Anderson than North Carolina's answer to Dave Edmund), but nobody
brings so singularly with its natural Caroline roots under a hat, how this moved
"Olympic ASS Kickin ' team"! Loosely geht's with the merry Rock'n
scooter "Can't GET the one you want", with which Terry Anderson one
plays all instruments: Kick Drum, guitar and "6 ft. steps a LOD that",
on which it herumtrommelt. Class melody, mad singing! Power equivalent correctly
mood! Like also the following "You know ME", a splendourful, rotziger
Dan Baird like guitar Rootsrocker full Southern charm, equipped with the typical
Satellites of Boogie guitar reef, knalligen Drums, a fiery Lap Steel guitar and
a few never disturbing, only hold back assigned blaesern. Power properly steam!
Greatly also the vollsoundige, with full guitars and one beautifully in the
background acting organ instrumented, again once wonderful in the ear going,
momentumful "Sunday dress", the raue, sharp-edged, riffige NRBQ like
Rootsrocker "rear one ' n dry", like also, the dynamic, easily
nostalgically angehauchte, extremely melodische "Raindrops"
accompanied by marvelously transparent Acoustic guitars and a Steel, until with
the sow-strong "PUR-POLARIZE GTO" times again a correctly dirty, but
not less melodische number on the program stands. More madly, more riffiger,
southern fueled root /Gitarrenrock Kracher, with which the Mr. Dan Baird and
Eric "Roscoe" Ambel (thus the half Yayhoos crew) traktieren as welcome
guests the guitars additionally. Mad Lead runs! A hammer number! Skirt passport
purely! Further highlights: the fast, gladly gelaunte Honky Tonk /Country Feger
"$100 A week", the full Sixties-flair putting with a wonderful "Schweine"
organ verzierte, at Brinsley black or Dave Edmund reminding Beat Rocker
"Inez", which gespickte groovige, riffige, with kratzigen, rauen
guitar runs, again something at Dan Baird reminding "Gityoassupda
road" (class Songtitel - well, who kriegt "the translation" in
the correct English fastest?...), with also the horn of a BMW 318i to the
employment comes (anyhow the Song Credits in such a way says it as per Cover),
the over-foaming, fast guitar Rock'n roll Heuler "check please", how
also the wonderful Americana /Country Stomper "Rehab", with guests
such as walter Clevenger, Jamie Hoover and Caitlin Cary! "in A world OF
lullaby skirt and sensitive more songwriter dude, A good ' ol box OF skirt and
roll is needed every once tons while in A remind you why the good lord gave you
feet... for dancin '!", it means on Terry Anderson's one Website! Jawohl!
There this mood is for dancing, to the Abrocken - in addition, to enjoying, for
momentum take up, to escape or in order with good mood the tristen everyday
life! A bear-strong root rockin ', southern rockin ', country rockin ', guitar
rockin ', Boogie rockin ', Pub rockin ', Retro rockin ' power Fun Rock'n roll
party, with which no eye (and no throat) remains probably drying! Or somewhat
more crudely expressed: "It totally fucking rawks my big Hillbilly
ate", how it describes Jeff barrier of the renowned root/America well
magazine "NO depression"! The album comes in a fine Digipack, whose
Booklet can be apart-folded to a beautiful, small volume poster, on the back
printed on with many small photos and all Songtexten! A super part - indeed
"olympia-ripely"! And it "kickt ate"...