Chicago Sun-Times

Three and a half stars of four

You can almost see the steam rising from the asphalt. The grungy hill-country-blues-meets-folk sound of the Tarbox Ramblers' second Rounder release is dark, noirish and played in black and white.

The four-piece Boston-based band includes the menacing guitar and growled vocals of Michael Tarbox, the string bass of Johnny Sciascia and the violin of Daniel Kellar, with three drummers sharing duties. It's tough, adult-sounding music that pulls no punches, a 2004 soundtrack for "Where the Sidewalk Ends."