Spanic Boys-Spanic Boys 320 kbps

The cover photo makes father/son duo Tom and Ian Spanic look like slightly more heavyset versions of They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh, but the major-label debut of Milwaukee's Spanic Boys is actually a surprising and intoxicating roots-rock melange. The Spanics influences span the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, the Bobby Fuller Four, and Marshall Crenshaw. Should this be called country-pop-a-billy-&-roll? However you tag it, SPANIC BOYS rocks.

From the Crenshaw-like opening track, "Keep on Walking," to the amiably choogling closer "Roll on Down the Line," Tom and Ian Spanic showcase close harmony voices that can switch from Everly-sweet to Stanley Brothers-tart in an instant. Both Spanics are also exceptional songwriters, as "Tears of Happiness" and the wild "Living Hell" will attest. The Spanic Boys never broke out beyond their cult audience, but SPANIC BOYS is a fine roots rock album.