Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today (New West, 2000)

Mississippi-writer Larry Brown gives this one his personal seal of approval in the press material. And one listen to Slobberbone's third release, and you'll now Mr. Brown is indeed very right. Like the author's stories and novels, this Denton, Texas-based band makes music that is unsentimental and raw, but full of heart and humor and folks who just might turn to the back roads, beer in between their legs, with nothing or too much on their minds.

Recorded at Memphis's legendary Ardent Studios and produced by Paul Ebersold, the album doesn't have a bad song on it. These guys are rockers and enjoy making all kinds of loud and catchy noise ("Placemat Blues," "Gimme Back My Dog," "Bright Eyes Darkened").

But it's not all slash and burn guitar; the boys slow it down every now and again and let their quiet country side show, bringing the acoustic guitar or mandolin or pedal steel to the front, before resuming to rock ("Josephine," "Lumberlung"). Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood lends his vocals to "Lazy Guy," a funny hoe down that celebrates the pleasures of not giving a damn. In fact, Hood and Slobberbone's Brent Best, lead singer and chief songwriter, share a similar twangy vocal style that can whisper or holler just as effectively and sincerely.