Well, I did indeed listen to it.

About three or four times in a row.

Forget about getting any kind of a useful review from me, probably because I feel like I've already reviewed this with all the praise I've had for the band in the past...and getting to hear it in progress. I'm too biased; happily biased.

I'm just really glad to have this thing in hand, finished: a great album filled with great, honest songs.

I will single out leader Ken Layne for a little bit of extra praise here, since I've been so voluminous with praise for the band in the past: comparing this finished version to the rough mixes--that is, having had several months distance from hearing these in progress--I've got to hand it to him. His lead is magic...maybe a kind of black magic. He doesn't so much sing over the music as sing and growl and snarl and yelp like a gleeful mad drunk coyote within the music. There's some really subtle but wonderfully omnipresent edginess and daring to a lot of his performances. On the surface, with an easy listen, it all sounds right and good. But listen a little more closely and begin to realize that there's some classic front man intensity here...something that lends even more bite to an already formidable album.

I'm usually not one to foreground lyrics, but there's some stark poetry on here. Top shelf writing.

I'm also not one to get hung up on singles; I prefer listening to albums as albums. But, what the hell happened to "Lincoln Town Car?" Jesus. The old Bootlegs version was great, but now...what a thing of dark beauty. Check the echo of Neil Young in Axel's brilliant guitar work.

Same with "Glitter On." One of the prettiest songs I've heard in a long time...but there are all kinds of wonderful shadows lingering around the fringes and it builds into something that'll take you somewhere else altogether. It's that note. The long, long note. Hurts very good.

Is there a subtext in those lyrics to the making of this record? I wonder.

The album closes with the swirling, uncorked "Like a Train." If you're not wrecked by that point, probably nothing will get you there. Maybe go back to the pummelling, intense "Mama, Take Another Stand" and repeat until rinsed.

Then sleep.

Great stuff.