Playing covers can only go so far before a band starts itching to strut its stuff, something that Hipbootjoe can easily testify to. The band’s third disc is its most auspicious yet, one that ambitiously aims for mainstream country radio with a densely layered sound that’s somewhat akin to Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban. While something of this ilk may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially roots-music listeners, the sincerity of the tender lyrics and Travis Thibodaux’s emotive, high tenor voice are certainly alluring enough to entice anyone to stay glued to the story line.

In keeping with the current country fashion, there are no dominating soloists here; songs are the primary focus. Still, Hipbootjoe squeezes a ton of instrumentation (organs, searing guitars, harmonicas, Cajun accordions, dobros, banjos and mandolins) into a blistering keyboard-guitar attack that receives royal production treatment from producer Tony Daigle.

The disc’s last half finds the band putting the hammer down on a few rollicking rock ’n’ rollers that could easily contend for commercial rock or country radio airplay, depending on which way the wind blows. Two more songs, the title song (featuring Sonny Landreth’s slide guitar wizardry) and “Goin’ Back Home” leave a Louisiana thumbprint. Just in case it doesn’t have enough bases covered, Hipbootjoe closes with the gospel-romping “Saved” that might make a robe-wearing, river-dunking experience worth it just to savor this tune as the event soundtrack.