Cakewalk (1991)

A promising rock band that have been building its audience without the help of Top 40 radio have a worthwhile new album out. Check out Richmond's House of Freaks' Cakewalk for a redolent shot of Southernness — it's right there, bursting out of the record in the antebellum twang of singer Bryan Harvey's voice, the rough blues roots of the songs, and such instrumental touches as martial drums and banjo. The guitar-and-drums duo (Johnny Hott on drums) works with a variety of backing musicians on their new, strikingly nuanced, pristinely produced album. B+