Slobberbone - Barrel Chested (1997)

Slobberbone's second record pushes the country-rock concept to its logical extremes, fusing authentic roots trappings -- fiddles, dobros and the like -- with punk-metal rave-ups similar in spirit to AC/DC. The juxtaposition works: Brent Best is a fine songwriter, equally comfortable moving from bracing punk numbers like "Haze of Drink" to long, mournful guitar jams like "Get Gone Again" to quiet country sketches like "Little Drunk Fists"; combined with his band's impressive sonic reach, Barrel Chested is a real treat. By Jason Ankeny