Check It Out, Lock It In, Crank It Up!;

Rounder has released some prime examples of contemporary zydeco, as this release from Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers makes evident. Beau Jocque and company pound out some high-energy music here. This is not meant for relaxed listening; this is party music. Good-time classic "Keep a Knockin'" is given the full treatment, including a killer Hammond B3 solo. "Slide and Dip It" comes in two mixes: one zydeco and one "party dip." Both are guaranteed to get your house rocking. "Going Down to the Country," on the other hand, is a raw swamp blues while "She Wants to Sell My Monkey" is all but indescribable. Top these off with an outrageous cover of funk standard "Tighten Up" and you have a nonstop winner. These guys put the "Z" in zydeco! --Lars Gandil