Goddamnit, I love this band. I saw them for the first time, what, fifteen years ago? And this is their thirteenth album? Safe to say they’re lifers at this point. 13 brings us another record’s worth of haunting, rollicking songs rife with Americana and Appalachian roots music. Fiddle, accordion, washboard, mandolin, washtub bass. Songs like “Back against the Wall” and “Your Wooden Heart Is Dead” are, at their heart, punk as hell—songs that just abound with spirit. Simultaneously plaintive, joyous, and dark, these are just a stunning collection of tunes. Might be my favorite record of theirs, and I hope we get thirteen more. –Keith Rosson (Arkam)