Spend a Night in the Box
The Texas-based trio Reverend Horton Heat has been in dire need of a solid album, and, luckily,Spend a Night in the Boxis it. The middling material that overruled the lukewarm albumsIt's Martini TimeandSpace Heaterhas been scrapped in favor of strictly swinging material, buoyant rockabilly, and a handful of good ol' fashioned stomp. The fun kicks in from the get-go with frontman "Reverend" Jim Heath lost inside of a paranoidCool Hand Lukefantasy; it sounds like sweat and tastes like bourbon. Speaking of bourbon, "Sue Jack Daniels" dives headfirst into the trio's notorious psychobilly sound, upping the tempo and feedback until the whole thing boils over. Other standout cuts include the thumping "It Hurts Your Daddy Bad" and the trucker fantasy "Sleeper Coach Driver."Spend a Night in the Box, produced by Paul Leary of theButthole Surfers, is reverently retro and proudly rock & roll.--Jason Josephes