Take a dose of 80s Soundgarden, throw in your favorite 00s alternish rockers and shake until broken. It's that second part that should alert listeners to the fact that these folks just ain't American.

Mudd•Shovel Little White Hair (Epictronic)

Irish, though, is just not where I would have gone. Possibly Swedish (the singing is in an American--yet not--accent) or something like that. But not Cavan. This trio uses all the power and slink it can muster to rip its way through its first album. I'm being complimentary when I haven't heard a commercial rock album like this in years.

So don't let the heavy grunge of the opener, "Over the Line", throw you. This is just as Strokes-y in many moments. And, of course, being properly European, there are serious subjects and introspective moments in addition to some wonderfully hedonistic riffage.

If I had to guess, I'd say Mudd•Shovel ends up more on the tight, crafted rock side of things as it goes along. But when it decides to, it can get as big, dumb and loud as anyone. Occasionally throttling and always fun, this set is just about everything that could be demanded of a summer highway classic. Play it very loud.

Jon Worley