By: David Schultz

Following the creative vision of former Brother Jed guitarist Ed Anderson, Backyard Tire Fire's third studio album, Vagabonds and Hooligans, nimbly avoids genre classification. While the alt-country application wouldn't be unfair, especially given the Drive-By Truckers feel of certain tracks, by successfully working the borders and diving into country, blues, Southern rock and indie-rock and finding their commonality, Backyard Tire Fire has found something fresh and new within each one.

Skillful in apologetic oops-I-got-drunk country, Vagabonds and Hooligans moves beyond simple expressions and honky-tonk country, falling more within the mold of their recent EP, Skin and Bones. The well produced album contains intriguing depth: nothing seems as simple as it appears. On the opening title track, Anderson sings of the troublesome visions in his head over a lovely acoustic guitar melody, leaving the backing violin to move between complementary accompaniment and subtle John Cale style trepidation. Similarly, on "Apparitions," BTF introduces a slight sense of unease in such a manner that it gives the song a pleasing edge rather than an unnecessary distraction.

The rhythm section of co-founder Tim Kramp on drums and Matt Anderson, Ed's brother, on bass make Backyard Tire Fire's mélange work. On "Black Dog," they provide the framework for Ed's blistering road-house style guitar work and create the perfect sense of camaraderie on the gloriously ragged "Get Wise." On the tender songs, BTF channels the endearing scruffiness of The Band and on "Wrong Hand," they create a southern-blues epic that could be mistaken for a Black Crowes track circa Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. Able to work outside the alt-country confines, "Undecided" comes from the laissez-faire disinterest of Pavement era indie-rock and "Corrine," with its well-placed organ, dates back to the post-grunge 90s when Stone Temple Pilots and Live ruled the world.

To say that Vagabonds and Hooligans is a hard album to pin down should be taken as a compliment. Much like their recent set at B.B. King's, Backyard Tire Fire can comfortably work within many different genres without seeming scattershot or unfocused. Rather than finding a genre to confine themselves within, on their latest, they seem to be finding a recipe which should allow them to grow.

Labels: Backyard Tire Fire