Rainmakers

Imagine an unironic Stanard Ridgway with the volume up to eight and you'll have a bead on the innate charms of Bob Walkenhorst's vocals. Seductive he ain't, and too bad, because he mostly outwrites Ridgway in his unironic way, counseling healthy excess in the battle against repression: "Let My People Go-Go." For better and worse, the band's as straight-up as the leader, who's got so much preacher in him that you wonder whether he believes anyone should get their government cheese. (Grade: B)