The Woodentops – Wooden Foot Cops On The Highway (LP)
While their 1986 debut Giant was a masterclass in frantic, acoustic-driven indie-pop, Wooden Foot Cops on the Highway is the sound of a band throwing caution to the wind. Co-produced by frontman Rolo McGinty alongside legendary producer Scott Litt, this 1988 follow-up is an ambitious, hyperactive cocktail of post-punk energy, global rhythms, and early dance-rock experimentation. Rather than sticking to a safe formula, The Woodentops integrated heavy funk basslines, gospel backing vocals, and intricate studio production. The result is a vibrant, deeply rhythmic album that feels like a restless late-80s block party—a record that demands you move your feet, even when the lyrical themes turn anxious or introspective.
The album opens brilliantly with "Maybe It Won't Last", serving as the perfect bridge from their debut by pairing signature, hyper-speed acoustic strumming with a breathless, soaring melody. This breathless energy quickly transforms into a rhythm-first philosophy on "They Can Say What They Want", a defiant anthem driven by a thick, rubbery bassline and sharp horn stabs. The band proves they can handle a shift in pace just as effectively with "You Make Me Feel", leaning into a wistful country-folk territory where a gorgeous, weeping violin takes center stage to give the track a deeply emotional, cinematic depth.
The centerpiece of the album's groove experimentation is "Wheels Turning", an absolute hypnotic masterpiece built around a looping keyboard riff and a driving dance beat that showcases the band's famous "hypno-beat" reputation. This leads into the high-octane "Stop This Car", the album's most immediate and rock-oriented track, bursting with nervous energy and jagged electric guitar stabs. The band then pushes their experimental boundaries even further with "What You Give Out", a track heavily influenced by Talking Heads that features dense, interlocking polyrhythms and an incredible, bubbling funk clavinet performance by guest star Bernie Worrell.
As the record winds down, it takes a stunning, slow-burning departure with "Heaven", stripping away the fast acoustic guitars in favor of lush, ambient synthesizers and a soaring gospel choir. Ultimately, Wooden Foot Cops on the Highway is a thrillingly unpredictable listen. While it initially polarized purists who wanted a carbon copy of their debut, it has aged beautifully as a pioneering piece of alternative dance-rock that captures a brilliant band expanding their boundaries and refusing to stand still.
Label: Megadisc
Country: Benelux
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Plays top but has many superficial marks / hairlines