The Nouveaux Honkies

Where Do I Go?

(Whirled Around)

This Port Salerno, Fla., band combines the retro sounds of the Squirrel Nut Zippers with a decidedly more blues-oriented sound, but on "Where Do I Go?" the band's sound also skirts the boundaries of roots rock, gospel, '20s jazz, and country. Check out the smoking "West Doing 60," with its blazing blues guitar, and then listen to "10 O'clock Bop" a few songs later, and its country swing sound almost sounds as if it is being played by another band. Guitarist Tim O'Donnell and violinist Rebecca Dawkins trade vocal duties while drummer Phil Ori and bassist Mike "Ernie" Burney provide the rhythm section. Standout tracks on this wonderfully retro-sounding release include "Pickled Sweet Peppers," "Chicken Lady," and "Mr. Cooper." Lowcountry music enthusiasts will be able to catch this great band live Feb. 12 at the Charleston County Public Library's downtown branch during the Lowcountry Blues Bash. (B+)

Download These: "10 O'clock Bop," "Chicken Lady," "Pickled Sweet Peppers"

Various Artists

Boots Buckles & Spurs: 50 Songs Celebrate 50 Years Of Cowboy Tradition

(Song BMG Nashville/Legacy)

Country music and rodeo have always gone hand in hand. To celebrate the 50th edition of the National Rodeo Finals, Legacy has assembled this impressive collection of songs, with the common thread being that they all have to do with the subject of cowboys and rodeos. It would have been easy to simply assemble the latest country hits for this set, but the producers have really gone the extra mile, starting the collection with Gene Autry's 78-rpm recording of "Back in the Saddle Again," and running through an incredible roster of country stars and songs. A sampling of the artists include legends such as Bob Wills, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson, as well as more recently successful stars such as Vince Gill, Montgomery Gentry, and Brooks & Dunn. It's a perfect blend of old and new artists singing about the cowboy way. The booklet included in the box set has information on each song, as well as a list of National Rodeo Finals winners over the years and posters from various years of the event. If you're a fan of real cowboy music, then saddle up. (A)

Download These: "Back in the Saddle Again," "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky," "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"

Nickelback

Live At Sturgis 2006

(Koch Vision)

It seems that, despite its widespread popularity and huge album sales, Nickelback continues to be seen as something of a musical punch line by rock snobs. It is doubtful that the snarky comments and comparisons to the now-defunct Creed matter much to Nickelback's band members, who are likely too busy counting their ever-increasing piles of money to bother listening. For fans of the Canadian rock band, a new DVD offers a good, if not brief, chance to see their guitar heroes in action. Captured live during a music festival held in conjunction with the world-famous motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D., "Nickelback: Live at Sturgis 2006" presents a dozen live songs by the band, complete with pyrotechnics, guitar faces and all of the swagger one would expect. Standout performances include "Photograph," "How You Remind Me," and the set-opening "Animals." DVD extras include documentaries about the annual Sturgis bike rally, as well as a look at life on the road with Nickelback. There is also a photo gallery and a music video for the song "Rockstar." Say what you will about Nickelback, but there is at least one sold-out crowd of motorcycle enthusiasts that will tell you that Nickelback rocks. (B-)

Contact Devin Grant at chucktowncritic@yahoo.com.