Smack the bar and bounce the coasters if Michael Hannon’s shopping list of women all over America on opener 'Just One More' ain’t one of the best lyrics of Hannon’s hangover-inducing cannon. Musically, it’s off to the races as Keith and Steve churn and burn through what might be the band’s best record sonically speaking. Song-wise it’s more chugging and grooving and even shufflin’ come 'Drivin’ Down The Sidewalk', on which Michael mixes his three favourite things, impending DUI, IUD and VD. The title track, oddly, reprised from the stopgap EP lumbers just a bit too laboured, but then it’s back into the fiery rock ‘n’ roll licks for 'Boozehound', which is a party shaker of a red light highlight. I should mention that given the booklet’s beer-drainer explainer, Mean is somewhat of a concept album, the concept being deny the grey hair and shake a fist at creaking bones (actually there’s a nuclear beer thing). Lest the wattage yanks your ear, Steve makes sure to pull out a little swampy acoustic. Near last call, the slide-inflected 'Ain’t Dead Yet' is the real mean. Why these guys aren’t foamin’ with the Nashville Pussy/Black Label set yet is still a mystery to me. One day it will happen, although will Michael ever see another 'Come Along'? Weezy doubts it.
