Racket of Three is an appropriate album title for this offering from Mambo Sons, who pack quite a rock-n-roll punch for a three-piece band (though, in this case, keyboardist Matt Zeiner appears as a “special guest”). Their music here belies anything “mambo,” as they seamlessly play through a variety of roots-based and classic rock with plenty of appealing hooks and smart lyrics.

The album’s production is suitably polished to match the band’s impressive musical chops. Tom Guerra’s guitar playing fuels much of the album, and he really lets loose on tracks like “Sidewinder Walk” and “Been out of Touch.” Racket of Three is a fun, invigorating listen in the same vein as John Cougar Mellencamp and Los Lobos.

Favorite Track: Track 9, “Delta Slide”