Sin Now...Pray Later (HighTone, 1996)

After recording two fine albums for a small Minneapolis label, The Carpetbaggers move up to Hightone for their third disc. Although the vocals are sonically in the "alternative country" vein, musically, they're much more likely to appeal to country purists than most such bands. Using 50's style instrumentation (slap bass and no drums), The Carpetbaggers effectively harken back to the sound of that era. And with song titles like "My Jeannie's In A Bottle," "Don't Ask and I Won't Tell," and the title track, they feature lots of the humorous wordplay that made older country music so much fun. Mixed in are covers of some older country songs, (including one by Marvin Rainwater, a major hero of the group).

The band projects a more modern touch with a parody of "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" called "Suburban Boy" Nashville is all excited about BR5-49, but based on recent releases, The Carpetbaggers are mining similar turf much more enjoyably.