Blackie And The Rodeo Kings - Kings Of Love (1999)

The follow-up to High or Hurtin', the 1996 debut by this Canadian trio, is just as terrific -- only there's more music on this double-disc set. Folkie Stephen Fearing, bluesman Colin Linden, and rocker Tom Wilson each bring something different to the table, yet all share a common love of roots music. That term covers a lot of ground, but so does the music. While they function just fine live with only their guitars, the threesome is helped in the studio by drums and other instrumentation on upbeat numbers such as "King of Love." Linden nails an unreleased Band demo treatment of a Jules Shear tune called "Tombstone," and Bruce Cockburn sits in on one song. Even two CDs don't seem enough for this wonderful music.