Nick Curran and the Lowlifes: Reform School Girl (Eclecto Grooves/Southbound)

I'm sure the heavily tattooed Curran from Austin, Texas wouldn't make any claims of great originality (although he does pen more than half this album, his song titles include Reel Rock Party, Psycho, Lusty L'il Lucy, Filthy and so on). But he simply slices off large and rowdily enjoyable slabs of Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Duane Eddy, Phil Spector girl groups, Twinkle, Mink De Ville's Spanish Harlem sound, Hasil Adkins . . .

You get the picture?

Not a lot here that doesn't come grounded in Fifties rebel rock'n'roll and doubtless plays well in bars all across the South.

You would need to see him in noisy bar to get the full sweat'n'threat of this -- but if you are having a party and want people up dancing, carrying in kegs and roaring at the top of their lungs then Nick is your man.

But you have been warned.