J.J. Caillier and the Zydeco Knockouts, The Good Bad and Ugly (Caillier Records)

J.J. Caillier never really dropped out of zydeco; he just went AWOL for a while. Well, he’s back in the barracks now and like a good soldier of zydeco, his latest effort offers something for everyone, a little swaying blues, an expressive waltz and plenty of get-up-and-go zydeco. The title song rocks your pelvis more than Elvis and Caillier hits pay dirt with “Get On Up (Bikes Shuffle), a zydeco-reggae ode dedicated to all the fearsome leather types in the house. Much of these proceedings has the right amount of energy, like “Tell Me Why,” and “Cush Cush Caillier” that features the comical chatter of former Beau Jocque beat heater “Skeeta” Charlot. There’s plenty of scorching guitar from Kent August and Chris Breaux while Caillier sticks mainly to the old school piano-note accordion that’s so distinctly different in this age of the mashdown squeezebox. It’s clear Caillier had some ideas buzzin’ before being studio bound, especially with the sensual ballad duet “Good To You” between Caillier and zydeco starlet Rosie Ledet. It’s works but a middle track placement instead of being the second cut would have made for a nice break from the energy storm.