(10.03.06) Recommends:

The Avett Brothers, "Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions" (Ramseur, 2006).

I am recommending this album almost solely on the strength of the first track, "Talk on Indolence," which is country-punk in the style of Wichita, Kansas's Split Lip Rayfield. Which is to say, bluegrass performed in a way you heretofore thought not allowed. Which is to say, music that sounds like it is performed by scary looking men, tattoed and drinking whiskey straight from the bottle. This album is more well-rounded than a SLR album, but if you're like me, you might fire up the first track, and listen to it so much that you don't get to track 2 for several weeks.

"Talk on Indolence" is currently being streamed on the Ramseur Records myspace page. Rub that grease from your elbow through your hair, then go give it a listen.

Of note: Those in the Bay Area will have a chance to catch The Avett Brothers this weekend at the biggest bang-for-your-buck bluegrass festival on earth, San Francisco's free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival.