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Recent reviews of "The Taking Or The Leaving"

"The Taking or the Leaving is still an alt-country record, but McGee’s inner punk no longer sounds conflicted alongside jangly country twang, and he instead walks the line with confidence and ease, having settled into a brand of Americana that resides somewhere between Lucero and Bruce Springsteen.  It’s a cohesive, yet eclectic journey through homegrown American music of the last half-century, and the realization of where Brian McGee was headed all along."-Mountain Xpress, 9/02/10

"It's hard to listen to this album without giving it your full attention, not because his stories are strange or fantastical, but because they aren't. They're your stories and mine. We've lived them and we want to hear someone like McGee tell them back to us. McGee also manages to project an uncanny similarity to Bruce Springsteen's attitude, delivery and ability to touch the human heart."-Bold Life, 10/31/10

"The follow-up to 2007's Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed, The Taking or The Leaving finds McGee seemlessly blending folk-punk, 1950s rock n' roll, and rockabilly into a satisfying Americana album.  You won't hear any of the songs on this album on your favorite radio station, but that's just as well.  Without the confines of trying to craft a radio hit, the music is solely dependant on the whim of the artist, and on this album, McGee gets it right."-NashvilleGab.com, 11/18/10

"On The Taking or the Leaving, McGee qualifies as a backwoods Bruce Springsteen. McGee has an imperfect voice that at times is heart-wrenching, but is also capable of entering madman mode.  McGee's songwriting features a maturity many younger acts lack, but, of course, some of that comes from additional years and experiences. A greater appreciation of The Taking and the Leaving will come from those who have loved and lost a few times."-Mountain Times, 9/16/10

"On his second release, The Taking Or The Leaving, McGee is fully in control. It blurs the line between country and punk so thoroughly that the only thing it can be called is rock n’ roll. There’s a heaping helping of Mike Ness served up with a greasy side of Dexter Romweber, all finished off with a guzzle of Springsteen Lite — most evident in the chimey “First Kiss.”-Yes Weekly, 10/6/10

"In a hybrid ’50s style of rockabilly with a little bit of country and a whole lot of rock ’n’ roll, McGee revs the engine of his all-American Springsteen-style songs about everyday struggles conquered with hope.  With galloping rockabilly romps such as “Hold Sway,” and a voice-cracking ballad “Walking Back to Love,” McGee cuts to the quick, wearing his heart on his sleeve with songs about overcoming desperation, finding love and welcoming new celebrations."-Go Triad, 10/7/10

Reviews from 2007 to 2009

"McGee approaches the country and punk genres with class and care, penning tunes that satisfy both genres, but that don't sell out to either one "
- Asheville Citizen Times

 

"If you took the gritty charm of old-school country and injected it with the drive of punk rock, you might well end up with something very close to the music of Brian McGee and The Hollow Speed."
- Mountain Xpress
 

"McGee’s reedy tenor stretches out over the proceedings...comparisons to the acoustic efforts of Uncle Tupelo could easily be made on songs like “That’s When The Night Comes On,” while the dark honky tonk shuffle of “Hell Is Open All Night” sounds like it could be a lost Hank Williams cla"
- Dave Brewer, High Country Press
 

"He held it all together under a rough, raw-souled vocal, howling, growling and wailing style that suited roadhouse blues as well as brokenhearted country. They made the audience wonder who was having more fun, the crowd or the band rocking in the groove of guitar and bass and hypnotizing fiddle. "
- The Wire
 

"On this superb debut, Brian McGee seamlessly blends the attitude and angst he honed as front man of the punk rock trio Plow United with the timeless authenticity of old country and blues. The self-titled disc consists entirely or originals written by McGee, and while many pay unspoken homage to masters like Johnny Cash ("The Turnaround") and Elvis ("Built For You"), the stories and whiskey-soaked voice howling them are uniquely his own. "
- Mountain Xpress
 

"He keeps a consistently down-home sensibility that makes it hard not to start seeing the world from his country-fried angle...this album is for hootin' and hollering, drowning your sorrows in booze or two-stepping with your little lady-all with a little bit of punk attitude thrown in. "
- BOLD LIFE
 

"Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed’s self titled debut album combines Americana, a little anger, and a couple saloon doors to hell. The aggressive delivery of the music with the sweet old fashioned title, make you want to invite the whole band over for lemonade spiked with vodka."
- Southcoast 24/7
 

"This CD has that, greaser, punk rock, beer drinker holding up his bottle from the back of the room feel. “Hawk On The Highway” is a song that is covered in dirt and has the feeling of a shot of whiskey. If you like the country meets rockabilly sound, try this."
- FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (F.O.E.)