Strong stuff. Honest roots country. It's a shame pop stars like Shania Twain and Brian White can sell 10 million albums, and the 'Dogs can't even get a major label!!!

The Hangdogs' style is reminiscent of a slightly countryfied BoDeans or Big Back Forty. They certainly know how to handle a 3-chord progression in a catchy fashion, but they don't specialize in loud, electrifying songs. Instead, their strength lies in a very dry lyrical wit hung onto catchy guitar hooks. "Hey Janeane" (likely to be the best-known track on the CD) provides a perfect example-- a lighthearted, sardonic ode to Ms. Garofolo. But songs like "Something Left to Save" (an urban desperation track with urgent instrumentals), "Speed Rack" (a melancholy, cry-in-your-beer tune about lost love) and "They Don't Play No Country On the East Side of New York" (a fun, catchy song about some very strange musical snobbery) demonstrate that this group has a lot of range and a lot of talent. The Hangdogs are by no means a perfect group-- their melodies tend to be workmanlike and the witty lyrics are sometimes too clever by half, but their CD stands up extremely well to repeated listenings, which means they're onto something good. At this rate, their next disc schould be great, and in the meantime, they're well worth the price of admission if you like roots rock.

Rural sound from a bunch of New York City guys--who'd have thought it? The best songs on this album, especially "Nothing Left to Save," and "I'd Call to Say I Love You," are among the best alternative country songs around. The rest of the album isn't bad either. Fans of Son Volt, Wilco, The Jayhawks and the Bottle Rockets should definately enjoy it.