Rick Broussard’s Two Hoots & a Holler

Eighth disc in 32 years, TH&AH's Time Has Shown Me has had ample time to craft an impressive scope and diversity. Barring "Seek Strike and Destroy" being a co-write with bassist Brad Fordham, every song's a Broussard original, their variety of country and rock & roll styles assimilating into a uniquely Texan punkabilly stew. Powerhouse drumming by Lisa Pankratz locks in with Fordham's death-grip bass, ably supporting Broussard's clear, twangy tenor and barking Telecaster. A stellar supporting cast – Casper Rawls, Tony Scalzo, and John X. Reed, among many others – help negotiate the stylistic shifts with skill and wit, Bradley Jaye Williams' accordion drenching several tracks. Highlights include Doug Sahm-damaged Tex-Mex opener "Oh, Rain," Ray Price-ian honky-tonk shuffles ("Austin Traffic," "Port A"), some Roy Orbison-esque melodrama ("Typical of You," a duet with Rosie Flores), something resembling Morrissey backed by the Shadows ("The Past Is Gone"), and snarling punk ("Black Cat Lounge"). Cris Burns produces sympathetically, and garage recordist supreme Jim Diamond (White Stripes, Dirtbombs, Fleshtones, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) mixes and masters with clarity and distinction.