Teddy Morgan & the Pistolas Lost Love and Highways (HighTone)

Teddy Morgan & the Pistolas

Lost Love and Highways (HighTone)

Teddy Morgan's previous outfit, the Sevilles, trafficked in solid, if unspectacular, blues-rock one or two degrees removed from the blandness of a Sixth Street happy hour. Now Fronting the Pistolas, his Lost Love and Highways is an eyebrow-raising 90-degree turn back to the soil, adding a goodly amount of country grit and axle grease resulting in a most pleasing album. Cruising the interstate between Steve Earle and Dave Alvin, Lost Love and Highways burns twang like rubber, especially on the opener "Bullet From a Gun" and "Ain't Waitin' No More." Lovable Louisiana legend Lazy Lester pops up for some sweet harmonica work on "A Word About a Woman," but the real catalyst here is the trio's road-polished tautness. Rootsier than a cypress swamp, Lost Love and Highways is a pleasant surprise, and a fine record to put on for that next trip down the blacktop.