Zoysia finds Henneman recharged by the economic and foreign policy failings of the Bush administration. Still mining those ever-sturdy Crazy Horse riffs, Henneman finds a way to incorporate soul and Southern funk into the roar while examining the personal toll W. and his ilk have taken upon the American middle class. "Better than Broken" and "Suffering Servant" are thoughtful examinations that never descend into rote, political rants by focusing on the day-to-day interactions of common people trying to make ends meet.
Still firmly grounded in greasy (and noisy), country shuffles, the Bottle Rockets have received a surprising rejuvenation by widening their margins. The playful call-and-response backing vocals on "I Quit" would have never appeared on previous efforts, but on Zoysia, such new wrinkles only add to the detailed characterizations--real folks taking solstice in beer and camaraderie--while cynically eyeing the powers that be.
