What Comes After

Minneapolis' Honeydogs are the sound of experience. Having stayed together for more than 18 years and released a sizable catalog, these vets, led by guitarist Adam Levy, summarize roots-rock with an expert touch. The brass pushing forth on "Broke It, Buy It," the slashing electric guitars and surging bass lines of "Fighting Weight," and the piano-to-guitar weave of "Death by Boredom" (with a gritty vocal that's pure heartland rock) ascertain The Honeydogs' reigning authority on all things Americana. There's a backporch acoustic guitar blues driving "Particles or Waves," deft fingerpicking for "Better Word," and brisk pop adding to the tension and release of "Devil We Do." There's an honest lyricism to the tunes and an economically packed punch to the arrangements. It's said this album was recorded in less than a week, and the result is both tight and unfussy. It's the sound of band members who intimately know one another's moves and can rely on the recording's mood to dictate their performances.