In all styles of music, each genre has a variety of different flavors. Rockabilly, for example, conjures visions of the revisionist Stray Cats, the revivalist Reverend Horton Heat, even bands that cross the tracks into the land of psychobilly. Often overlooked in the press are today's pure rockabilly bands who create stellar music that seems to be channeled from the mid 50s. The Cordwood Draggers are just such a band.

Based in the UK, the Cordwood Draggers are three Brits and an American and feature former members of the Sugar King Boys and One Track Mind. Leading the group is Mick Cocksedge on vocals and rhythm guitar, with Big Ed Potter on guitar and steel guitar. Jose Espinosa tackles the bass fiddle, while Johnny Haribo tends the drums. Together the Cordwood's rock it old-school with a slight western swing twang.

Radiation Bop!, the band's second CD, is released by the Spanish label El Toro, but the music is inexplicably and undeniably classic 50s Americana. The 14 original songs were recorded live in the studio with vintage equipment to produce that classic rockabilly sound.

From start to finish, this is one of the best Rockabilly releases of the year. And while the quality of the songs and the players deserve high marks, additional credit must be bestowed on producer/bassist Jose Espinosa and engineer Tracy Dick for mastering classic 50s rockabilly music that sounds as original as it would have 50 years ago.

There's no particular song to call out, as they are all first-rate compositions delivered by top-notch instrumentalists who really know their roots. It's standard, classic rockabilly—like Deke Dickerson meets Bill Haley—but unique enough that I love it. Great job, gents!