The debut album from this Chicago band is a sometimes spirited affair. Peter Houpts off-kilter vocals are an acquired taste, but these string-driven folks can pick up speed once they get going. The sound is reminiscent of country-rock stylings from the mid-seventies. With guitars, mandolin and fiddle battling in the mix, theres hardly enough room to showcase Steve Thomas vibrant pedal steel. The musicians all play their roles pretty straight here, which might just be the problem. The looser they get, they better they sound. When the band indulges in an extended instrumental passage on Judgment Day, sparks finally begin to fly. Thomas’s pedal steel cuts through the air and brings a welcome urgency to their often complacent mood. The beer-soaked weepers are convincingly sung, just a tad predictable. With more road time under their belts, a few better tunes and some calculated risks, these guys could really have something to offer.