Cross Canadian Ragweed
Happiness and All the Other Things
(Universal Records South)

Alt-country, roots-rock, or somewhere in between, Cross Canadian Ragweed has kept fans on their toes for 15 years now, with a foot firmly on either side of the rock/country boundary and now the Oklahoma boys are back. Cross Canadian Ragweed took root in traditional southern soil—there's no mistaking singer Cody Canada's commanding drawl—but the band is rebel-minded in the tradition of folks like Steve Earle, with material that's brought them attention from Nashville, but has proved a little too rough around the edges for the old-school Stetson hat and Wrangler jeans crowd. After all, these country boys once wrote a song paying homage to Pantera's Dimebag Darrell. On the new disc, the rock in their roll is toned down just enough to make the songs accessible to the more secular veins of both rock and country crowds.

On this diverse set the band delivers hard-driving twang on "51 Pieces," childhood introspection on the acoustic "Bluebonnets" and smoothed out honky-tonk on "Kick In The Head." Several tracks are worthy of mainstream country radio, but with enough gutsy swagger to satisfy the band's more rock-minded audience. Also included are three bonus acoustic tracks and a hidden gem that Warren Zevon would have been proud of.

With this album, Cross Canadian Ragweed flexes remarkable songwriting muscle laced with impressive roots-based instrumental flavor. It's an infectious dose of southern-tinged melody.
—Mark Uricheck