Kings of the Catnap (Rounder, 2000)

"But see, the norm in Texas is that there are guys who if you had to categorize the style or styles of music that they play, and play incredibly well, it's 'Texas.' That IS the style." - Teisco Del Rey

The LeRoi Brothers have been working their particular, pumped-up, roots version of Texas music for two decades now. It's been almost a decade since their last release - kings of the catnap indeed - but the band brings the same effortless mix that they're known for to the table here; starting from a base of fatback rhythm and blues, they throw in a little honky-tonk (with the Bakersfield twang of Casper Rawls's guitar plastered all over), some swampy pop grooves and some good old rock-and-roll.

The Brothers' own efforts are aided by a handful of guests, including Toni Price's high-riding counterpart to Steve Doerr's rough-and-ready vocals on his paean to female self-sufficiency, "She's Got Everything," and the contributions of Buck Owens' acoustic guitar and Jim Lauderdale's harmonizing on Rawls's Buckeroo-veined "The First Time." If you're a fan already, rest assured that their latest is vintage LeRoi Bros.; if you're not familiar with them, this would be a great place to start.