Fight Is On

His first album since 2008's Vicious Country, The Fight Is On still finds Popa Chubby in a combative mood, slowing things down a little bit for a stroll down memory lane on the acoustic "Switchblade Combs and Candy Cigarettes," but primarily pounding out heavy blues-rock that leaves plenty of room for him to solo. More than most recent Chubby albums, this is rock-oriented in its riffs and solos -- he goes so far as to tag on a live cover of Motörhead's "Ace of Spades" at the end -- but the album is still given a contemporary blues production, so there's just a bit too much air and cleanliness to the sonics. Still, Chubby's playing is spirited, and his aggressive tunes can be forcefully ingratiating. ~ Stephen Thomas Erelewine