There are people out there who just flat hate country music, but even with the most hard-core rock-heads there are a few guys that can soften their hearts (Steve Earle, Willie Nelson and certainly The Mavericks). Steve, because he can rock with the best of 'em, Willie, well, because he's Willie and the Mavericks because they tap into the well-spring of the origins of rock and roll with their homage to such pioneers as Orbison and Buddy Holly. I've been a long-standing fan of these guys for over a decade. (There's really no one else that does anything like them at all - Save perhaps Chris Isaac and Raul can sing circles around him)

Over their career they've remained consistently strong (which includes Raul Malo's 02 Solo release but I've to say that this new one brings them closer to their debut What a Crying Shame (which is still their benchmark and one of my top 20 for the decade of the '90s) than anything since. True it's a little over-produced (a little heavy on the strings and syrupy edges) but when Raul gets to singing these tales of love and heartbreak who cares? He kills on the ballads, the poppier tunes work for me and I even like the Salsa toe-tappers I love these guys and damnit so should you.