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Down from the hills in their fuel efficient mini-van with "The Waco Brothers Invade Jesusland" scrawled on the side in glitter and fire-red lipstick, the Waco Brothers are ready to show off the totems they’ve carved out of the corpses of punk and country.

Times are tough and disasters both natural and unnatural threaten to dismantle all we hold precious. There can be no more welcome a sight to a beaten and misled populace than a band with nothing left to lose, careening through the streets, dousing us with warm beer and sweat, guitars rumbling and tongues sharpened, spraying a foul scent into the corrupt temple. The Waco Brothers’ seventh CD shows their usual subtlety at leaving genre after genre in smoking ruins.

During the past decade in the blood-bucket roots underground, The Wacos have been called everything from saviors to butchers and Freedom and Weep is a decidedly rockin’ addition to their formidable canon (or is that
cannon?), a swaggering return to form that hits all your g-spots and leaves you panting. Cuts about dismantling democracy, going for a drink, golfers disguised as national leaders, appearing stupider than you really are, watching your carbs the night before they strap you to the gurney, election night jitters, and models throwing themselves out of first floor Motel 6 windows show that the Brothers are still able to meet the enemy head on with a good, hair-raising, boozy cackle. Cuz after all, you still need to have FUN at the end of the day, right?

Sure, you can dismiss these as songs shouted from the end of the bar by some sozzled cranks. But beyond the pounding of the drums, the shrieking of the steel and the knee-jerking hedonism, outrage stumbles about, there is madness and rage, and the joke is over and the laughter is hollow and tired.

"An outstanding blend of attitude and execution, Freedom and Weep reflects the Waco Brothers at their very best." Lee Zimmerman, Amplifier

"A rich and smart-alecky amalgam of down home cowpunk and biting lyrical wit that is nearly impossible to believe it exists... easily their best yet. Taken together, the songs assembled on this fine and substantial platter resonate like public service announcements--with pedal steel guitar." Shannon Zimmerman, Washington Post

"The Waco's continuing asset is the sense that they are on a chase, connecting the past with the main street of outlaws and thieves. As cowboys, they are more Butch and Sundance than John Wayne and Gary Cooper: anti-heroes who realize that these days, a white hat does not necessarily mean you're on the right side." Mark Guarino, The Daily Herald

"Freedom and Weep is one kick ass track after another from a group that's clearly in the midst of its prime. If you've ever entertained the same silly notions about the Wacos irrelevance that I did, give this one a spin and see if they don't change your mind." Brett McCallom, Splendid E-Zine

"If there's a good share of bitter futility in these songs, there's also a liberating rage, and if this once-great land is at the point of collapse, the Waco Brothers are here to see that the folks who still care go down swinging." Mark Deming, AllMusic.com

"Okay, so we know Langford and his lads can write great lyrics. Less expected is what worthy shitkickers the Wacos have become." Time Out Chicago

"In the end, history is going to be told by the winners, but there is always going to be a Waco Brother somewhere pointing out the emperor's new clothes while he blows his tuneless trumpet." Blaine Schultz, Vital Source

"The always sardonic lyrics are even sharper than usual this time around... but the Wacos have always been about taking a certain masochistic glee in their troubles, with rollicking, alcohol-drenched anthems." The Onion AV Club