Beat Farmers - Poor & Famous

The Beat Farmers' third album for Curb, 'Poor & Famous' is also their most glossily commercial, a transparent attempt to dress up their rough-edged roots rock in more commercially-presentable duds. The fact that the subterfuge doesn't work not only isn't a failing, but it's also what gives the album its tension and makes it the most musically interesting and satisfying studio album since their indie debut, 'Tales Of The New West'.