Jack the Radio hails from Raleigh, but it comes from the 70s. The boys affect a western style and the occasional cowboy sound, but this is 70s concept rock at its finest.

Jack the Radio Badlands (self-released)

The conceit behind this album is to create something of a spaghetti western rock opera, and damned if works far better than it sounds. I'm not sure I would have bought into an acid-rock version of the Eagles as played by Marc Bolan. . .well, no, that sounds pretty interesting to me.

The band stays in character throughout, and while the story falls a bit on the basic side, the inventiveness of the music is a constant. The reverbed lead guitar and echoed organ do lend that certain time and place to the sound, but they also drive these songs to my happy place.

Don't worry about the back story; this is solid rock and roll. Timeless stuff that ought to keep blazing away for a long time. Maybe it's not cool to crank up the guitars these days. Or maybe bands like Jack the Radio will usher in a new era of honest-to-god rock.

Either way, this album provides plenty of thrills. Each song turns over another rock, exposing wonders underneath. Quite the sunset drive.

Jon Worley