They say politics makes strange bedfellows; now and then, so does country.

Case in point: This fourth album from Canuck Julian Austin was produced by April Wine commander-in-chief Myles Goodwin, who also co-wrote some songs and plays guitar on several tracks. Not surprisingly, a few of them -- the boogie-twang Pussycat, the country-rocker I'm so Over You and the roadhouse firecrackers Bar Up in Houston and Ain't No Changing That -- hit a bit harder and faster than typical country fare. Elsewhere, Goodwin adds a tasteful polish to Austin's gruff-voiced tales of blue-collar woe and honky-tonk heartache.

All in all, it's not quite bulletproof, but it hits the target often enough to stay in the competition. (More on Julian Austin)

Track Listing