The career Boston's hillbilly wrecking crew THREE DAY THRESHOLD is getting pretty darn hot. Over the last few years, they've been featured on several reality TV shows like "The Real World" and "The Simple Life", in addition to winning all sorts of industry awards and recognitions. After hearing their latest slab, "Against the Grain", it's easy to see what the big deal is. These guys have three things that not a lot of new bands have: originality, a wide range of influences AND fun!

How wide do these influences range? Well, the album opener "Narrow it Down" might lead one to believe that JOHNNY CASH has risen from the grave with its old-school rockabilly twang. Through the rest of the album, listeners are graced with the ELVIS impersonation of "Chicken Shack (Baby's Got My Number)", the outlaw country of "Road to Riches, Road to Ruin" and the punk-laced bluegrass of songs like "Uni", "It's Alright" and "Gone (Part 1)". But wait - there's also a generous helping of Celtic folk to be had. Hell-raising tracks like "Whiskey, You're the Devil" and "A Toast to My Father" are the American answer to FLOGGING MOLLY and THE POGUES. The combination of hillbilly and Celtic elements makes for what could very well be the ultimate barroom soundtrack, with frontman Kier Byrnes transitioning smoothly between the two styles

The only gripe with this album is that the mellow, heart-felt love tracks like "Thrown Out" and "Softly" are a bit of a drag after having experienced the raucous fun of the other tracks. And admittedly, this is a record for partying and drinking, so those of us (points at self) who aren't into that lifestyle may not appreciate it as much as those who do. Still, there's a little something in this album for just about anyone, and when it's all said and done, a band like THREE DAY THRESHOLD deserves an big-rig full of respect for going "Against the Grain".

- Cardona

OFFICIAL SITE: www.threedaythreshold.com

RELATED ITEMS: No related articles at this time.