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Michelle Shocked sounds particularly playful while playing things loose on the most roots-oriented of the three albums she released simultaneously in June 2005. Stylistically, Mexican Standoff divides itself down the middle, with the first half exploring Mexican border music and the second half devoted to Texas-style blues. The Mexican music ranges from the mariachi brass of "Lonely Planet" to the conjunto accordion of "La Cantina el Gato Negro" to the torchy "Match Burns Twice." On "Wanted Man," Shocked moves into the sort of narrative territory frequented by the likes of Joe Ely and Tom Russell, while "Picoesque" matches gospel piano with vocal dramatics so over the top they amount to caricature. While the first half of the album is all over the musical map, the bluesy half is more of a piece, with stinging guitar and bedrock organ suggesting that Shocked has channeled the swaggering spirit of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. --Don McLeese
Recommended Michelle Shocked Discography
 Texas Campfire Tapes |  Short Sharp Shocked |  Captain Swing |
 Arkansas Traveler |  Kind Hearted Woman |  Deep Natural |