Wire & Wood

This New Brunswick band has earned kudos for live shows that feature a bracing and unique blend of roots rock, blues, and zydeco. In the studio, Glamour Puss has still got the chops and the presence, but in that more controlled environment, it's unfortunately easier to hear how unexceptional the band's singing voices are and how flat and featureless their melodies can sometimes be. Their energy and instrumental skills make up for it on tracks like "Maman Don't Play No Zydeco" (which is largely based on "Summertime Blues") and the interesting "Dangereuse;" "Six Feet Down" and "Million-Air" also work well, and the slow, torchy "If You Miss Me" is exquisite. But the album's acoustic-based title track is more workman-like than revelatory, and the group's rendition of "Boom Boom" is inexcusably derivative — covering John Lee Hooker is fine, but please, don't try to imitate his singing voice. Those who already love this band will not be disappointed; those who want to get to know them will do best to start with the live album.