Ben Bostick won't be pigeonholed. His debut last year fit quite nicely into whatever it is that is called "americana." There was room to breathe and some nice melodies.

Ben Bostick Hellfire (self-released)

Hellfire is meaner, dirtier and a much bigger mess. There's a lot of Waylon, a lot of Buddy Guy, an occasional nod to the finer things (the piano survives, but in much more of a Jerry Lee mode) and some of the most satisfying full-throated vocals I've heard in some time. Actually, there's a lot of Jerry Lee, period. In any case, Bostick clearly had one hell of a time putting together this set.

And that translates to the album. I don't think this was live-to-tape or anything, though a few tracks definitely have that feel. But this sucker is alive. Wry, angry and blisteringly wondrous. I've always been a sucker for the more visceral side of music. Bostick shows on this set that he's got the presence to reduce a crowd to a puddle of sweat.

I don't know what Bostick will do next, but his first two albums are excellent in completely different ways. I just hope he lets us catch our breath before dropping another bomb like this.

Jon Worley