Jumpin' Jolie

Album Review

This predominantly California bred but now Austin-based five-piece meshes pure Hank Williams styled honky tonk with Cajun and rockabilly for a tasty melange. Despite the band's reputation as a high-energy live act, this disc's appeal lies in its low-key, deliberate approach that goes down as easy as sweet wine. The stripped down instrumentation of two guitars, often-brushed drums and fiddle brings a warm backwoods ambiance to these 13 affable tracks. The album leans more towards classic country with back to back tunes like the snappy "Baby Have No Fun" and a more downbeat "California Sunset" covering the spectrum. Drums are dispensed with entirely on the folksy "You're the One I Care For" and are typically mixed softly which makes for an even starker approach. Six tracks were recorded at guitarist Rick Miller's (Southern Culture on the Skids) studios, and Miller's bandmate and wife Mary Huff sings dulcet harmonies on the gorgeous old standard "Vaya con Dios." Jen Duke adds her charming vocals to two tracks, which brings more homespun appeal. But even when the band kicks up its heels on the Chuck Berry-styled rocker "Baby's Got a Hold on Me," the effect is restrained. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, as Jumpin' Jolie runs on a groove that cruises yet never takes off. It's an unpretentious, easygoing collection that finds a vibe and sticks with it. A cover of Hank Williams' crusty "Jambalaya" might be a little too obvious a choice, but it's played with an enthusiasm that fits their sound. The Weary Boys are far too rootsy to get airplay on country radio, but it seems they don't aspire to be stars. As long as they keep releasing albums as intimate and honest as this, the group will be successful on its own terms.