The Sadies

Some have called them the world's greatest rock'n'roll band and the Sadies continue to live up to the hype with Internal Sounds, another instance where a new album one-ups the previous one in their catalogue. While the group often hire external producers like Greg Keelor and Gary Louris, this record marks the first one overseen by the Sadies' Dallas Good. As such, Internal Sounds possesses the most tension between their noise-punk origins ("The Very Beginning," "STORY 19," a tribute to Ronnie Splinter and his band the Outsiders) and the intangible aspect that makes them such an inclusive hit at folk festivals ("Another Yesterday Again," "Leave This World Behind"). If Dallas longs for the sonic ferocity of the Stooges, brother Travis is chasing something gentler. "So Much Blood" bears the Sadies' most striking reference ever to the Band, a group particularly close to Travis, who helms the song. The lyrics and arrangements are stellar, while having Buffy Sainte-Marie sing over 432-hz tuning experiment "We Are Circling" is the perfect closer for an album pushing boundaries while still steeped in tradition.