Dirt Road Logic: Great Lake Heart Ache

Coming down the same road as previous alt. country bands like The Drive-By Truckers and Old 97’s, Dirt Road Logic are intent on keep the old-school barroom rock alive on pleasing, rousing tunes such as “Hard Drinkin’ Daddy” that is part rock and part rockabilly while “Don’t You Wanna Go” is pure Americana roots rock. It’s not all drawl and twang however, with “What’s Wrong With My Baby” having a boogie, garage-y rock sound oozing out of every note. At the same time, “Loretta” is equally solid, a waltz-y honky tonk track that you can sway your torso and raise your steins to. Fans of The Black Crowes would get into the Southern fried “Salvation”. Dirt Road Logic glides through each of these songs and styles perfectly, with “Gentlemen and Wine” being a personal favorite along the lines of The Jayhawks. A disappointing effort is “Michigan Night (Part 2)” with the group trudging along without much energy or passion. Another keeper is the gorgeous, guitar-accented “Song from a Mountainside” that sounds like a cross between The Cash Brothers and Bob Seger.