The almost hyper-aggressive honky tonk sound sounded awfully familiar. Turns out this is Dean Schlabowske of the Waco Brothers and Jo Walston of the Meat Purveyors. And yeah, head Waco Jon Langford did the album cover. So this is incestuous as all get out.

Deano & Jo Deano & Jo (self-released)

I'd worry that Deano and Jo might take that the wrong way, but... it's right in line with the raucous playing and even more enthusiastic singing. Call it punkified country or alt. americana--scratch that. These folks have been playing this blistering roots stuff for more than 30 years, and I can't hear any evidence that they've slowed down at all.

Very familiar, and yet still satisfying as all get out. Most of these songs are Dean(o) originals, but the covers are off the beaten path as well. There is the occasional fiddle or pedal steel, but mostly this is Deano and Jo singing with spirted guitar accompaniment. Old school, and yet anything but.

Mostly, these are two people having one hell of a time. Music has lots of purposes, but unbridled joy is hard to top. These two are still at the top of their games. Personal collaboration has led to the unrestrained wonderfulness that is this album. Have mercy.

Jon Worley