If you were an entomologist, you wouldn't know where to pin these specimens. The driving undercurrent is rootsy, but the Blue Dogs simply sport that around town like a shiny new car. You'll find funky freakouts, shimmery atmospheric pop, crackling country rock, ragtime blues and felicitous folk. Whether lauding the charms of a Jeep Cherokee, imagining sailing the world in a boat with his horse, or passing through the world like a "Cosmic Cowboy," they've a playful spirit. The harmonies are crackling and the energy's infectious, which helps explain their quarter-century in the game and large grassroots following. With Old Habits and Old Man Whickutt. —Chris Parker