Rave-Ups - Tomorrow

2022 release. The Rave-Ups' three previous albums-1985's Town + Country, 1987's The Book Of Your Regrets and 1990's Chance-established the group as one of the pioneers of the cowpunk genre that eventually transformed into Americana, following in the footsteps of L.A.-bred country-rock groups from The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Byrds through contemporaries like X, The Blasters, and Rank + File. The original Los Angeles lineup-singer/songwriter Jimmer Podrasky, guitarist Terry Wilson, bassist Tommy Blatnik, and drummer Timothy Jimenez, who first met while working together in the A&M Records mailroom-have reunited for Tomorrow. Tomorrow may have been conceived before the pandemic, but it's themes touch on such hot topics as political polarization ("So, You Wanna Know the Truth?"), unrequited love ("Brigitte Bardot"), the relationship between father and son ("How Old Am I?"), fear and paranoia ("Coming After Me"), divorce ("When I Write Your Name") and the light at the end of the tunnel ("Tomorrow"). The band's country-punk bona fides are buttressed by the presence of pedal steel maestro Marty Rifkin (replacing the late "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow, who famously played on Town + Country) on "How Old Am I?" "Tomorrow" and "Coming After Me."