Lifers

Cody Jinks’ burly Texas twang, DIY metal past and deep-seated reverence for the burlier, bar-brawlin’ side of country music shine through on his eighth album, <i>Lifers</i>—his first foray into working with a label. As such, there’s a lot riding on this one, but the former singer of Texas thrashers Unchecked Aggression rises to the challenge with a grizzled baritone and a devilish wink. The gospel-tinged opener “Holy Water” sets the pace for an album full of booze, sin and self-reflection. “Must Be the Whiskey” is a vampy nod to Jinks’ outlaw forebears, and “Big Last Name” heads straight for the honky-tonk. But it’s on the acoustic “Stranger” where Jinks gets the most introspective, staring himself down in the mirror and thinking hard about what he sees.