6 years later The Dirty Truckers` Washed & Ready picks up right where its predecessor, Bush League Romance, left off - although singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Baker is the only remaining member. The new DTs are bassist Jamie Griffith, drummer Dave Foy and guitarist/vocalist Tad Overbaugh, of Kickbacks fame. When playing live the band includes guitarist John Brookhouse and drummer Brian McElroy. But live or on record these guys are still pumping out high-powered, low-flying rock `n` roll of the swaggering, twang-punk variety. The fact that Washed & Ready was tracked in a matter of days - co-produced by Baker and Ed Valauskas - only adds to the urgency of the affair. Guests on hand include Rich Gilbert (Frank Black & The Catholics) on pedal-steel guitar, and Jed Parish (The Gravel Pit), who blows a hot harp solo on one of the two cover tunes, Nick Lowe`s "Raging Eyes". The other cover is mined from their neck of the woods, "Help You Ann", by the long-running Bostonian garage-rock band The Lyres. Overlooking a well matched Replacements` cover this time `round, they`ve opted to make a catchy, energetic record that, like any good `Mats disc, is meant to be played - and sounds great - loud. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music (Diorama Records)
