My Suitcase Is Always Packed (Sugar Hill, 2009)

Singing and performing 13 songs in both English and Cajun French, Louisiana's Red Stick Ramblers refuse to let up here. The French language Je T'aime Pas Mieux, written by singer and fiddler Linzay Young, kicks things off on this 13-song album produced by the group, Gary Paczosa and Brandon Bell.

Old Fashioned Two-Step, with its infectious accordion, is an Acadiana classic. The title song features Young telling his sweetheart that he "believes in traveling light" as his fiddle saws away on this New Orleans-styled jazz track.

With a tip of the hat to the honky tonks of yesteryear, the traditional country of Drinkin' To You has the Ramblers in a sprightly mood. "I'll chase the neon like a moth runs to a flame," Young sings. You sense he means it. Taking the old "cross your T's and dot your I's" saying, the Ramblers slow things down a tad on Bloodshot Eyes, a song about a hangover after a night of partying. Doggone My Time, written by guitarist Chad Justus, keeps with that mellow mood while Morning Blues echoes that "hangover" feeling, but presented in a far more animated way. With Young's fiddle at the forefront and drummer Glenn Fields keeping time, Why, Now Baby? proves that the eclectic group can harmonize and perform with the best of them. The Red Stick Ramblers stay true to their Cajun roots while incorporating country and other roots-oriented styles into their sound. This is for those looking to dig a little deeper into the world of Cajun and roots music.