Grievous Angels New City of Sin

Galloping out of the stifling Arizona sun, the debut full-length CD from Grievous Angels delivers 11 songs packed with sand, sweat, rattlesnake scars, and, dare I say, cojones. This gutsy little package carves out a sound that befits their geographic location -- the desert turned city, smack dab between Bakersfield and Texas.

On New City of Sin, you'll find the foundations of classic Texas honky-tonk (only hopped up on steroids and tequila), the romping guitar runs of the Bakersfield masters like Merle and Buck, and, just for local flavor, the been-sittin'-in-the-car-too-long-with-the-windows-up distortion fueled wallop of the Meat Puppets. Add to that the secret weapon of Jon Rauhouse on pedal steel (equal parts swoon and swashbuckle), and mister, what you've got is pure honky-skronk heaven. Features 5th gear covers of country punk progenitors the Long Ryders ("Here Comes That Train") and bluegrass/old-time icon Hazel Dickens ("Don't Bother To Cry").