Blue Blazes

The sophomore album from this great retro band found them slowing things down a bit and paying more attention to arrangements and production. The results are more fully realized this time out, but not quite as much fun. There's a cooler, more laid-back feel to songs like the very swingy "What's Wrong With You" and the very country "Heartaches," and even the title track and "Racin' Burnin' Bridges" seem a little bit reserved. The romantic numbers are the ones that work best: "Arizona Moon" is a little bit clichéd, but it should be; "Babydoll" partakes of a Buddy Holly vibe to nice effect; and "Lucky One" is a good road lament. "Indeed I Do" is singer Jo Miller's attempt at a torch song, and it works pretty well. The album's only genuine misstep is "Buckaroo," a bizarre and nasty man-killing fantasy that seems out of place in the band's otherwise good-natured repertoire.