Hayes Carll is the wiseacre in the back of the cowboy class, a regular Todd Snider in boots. On his new album, KMAG YOYO, he declares that all he wants to do is "Stomp and Holler." He's been frustrated by our savior ("She Left Me For Jesus") and endured love "like tornado weather." His rollicking country crackles with a greasy Southern rock twinge as he puts his money on the long shots and bets his heart, not his head. At work for a decade, he's really emerged as a fine songcrafter on his last two Lost Highway releases.—Chris Parker