Holy Modal! This garagey New London-based old-time string band kicks more than cans. Dead Music II is, obviously, the second collection of $5 (cheap) renderings of old-time tunes attacked on banjo (by Daniel spurr) and fiddle (Dan Thompson) and catapulted by Doug Schaefer's agressive percussion ("washboard, djembe, drums" according to the liner notes). It contains amphetiminized versions of mountain music classics originated by the likes of Dock Boggs or pulled off source compilations such as Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music. The tunes are infused with the irreverent attack of Pete Stampfel and Steve Weber of the original Holy Modal Rounders (check out, especially, the new antiwar lyrics to "Arkansas Traveler" they have renamed "Afghanistan Traveler") and a surprisingly adept authentic fiddle and banjo sound. And Bogg's "Drunkard's Lone Child" is nothing less than Appalachian punk rock.

- By Joshua Mamis

The Can Kickers play the second "Sister City Showcase" at Rudy's on Sept. 7th with the Carlos Projeckt.