On their second album for Sub Pop, the Walkabouts proved that one of the great American bands was hiding in plain sight, with the opening Carla Torgerson-sung “Dead Man Rise” being a tight as hell combination of vivid rock and roll, a hint of classic r’n’b and country-touched spirit all at once. From there Torgerson and Chris Eckman deliver another set of killer songs, with guests like Natalie Merchant on “Where the Deep Water Goes” and Brian Eno singing and adding synth on the yearning Eckman-sung “Train to Mercy” showing who knew what was up.

– Ned Raggett