They have defined Cajun music for a decade or two now, from the bright acoustic tradition of the fiddle and accordion to roadhouse stomp and rock influenced music. Cajun Conja does both seamlessly in what is definitely one of the better "later" albums by this Louisiana band. They reel and rock through original and old tunes, using mandolins and electric guitars for a sharp twangy rhythm. They play it straight on Michael Doucet's "Telephone Stomp," the beery, bluesy "'Ti Monde" and a half-dozen well-known traditional tunes. But they can also tell a dark tale, and "Sur Le Pont De Lyon" (with a signature guitar bit from guest Richard Thompson) is one of the best pieces on the album. --Louis Gibson