In some ways, the latest from Cajun accordion rocker Wayne Toups parallels his 1995 return-to-roots Back to the Bayou. As that album came after a four-year hiatus, this mostly French one comes five years later after the blue-eyed soul of Toups and More Than Just a Little. Even though it seems like déjà vu all over again, as Yogi Berra would say, it’s hardly the same jog down to the first base. For starters, this time Toups unveils a scrappy new band that won’t have anyone pining for the stellar line-ups of previous Zydecajun incarnations. From the sounds of it, the new guard hasn’t dropped a beat either—rather, picking up a few in the process. Bryan Perrin lets it fly on keys while there’s often Southern rock guitar fire from Rhett Glindmeyer and Ray Ellender. Six of 13 tracks are Cajun traditionals like the warp-drive, blast ahead “Lacassine Special,” “Lemonde Song,” and “Jeunes Filles de la Compagne” where the give-it-all-ya-got Toups practically sings himself hoarse. On these tracks, Toups’ Cajun blood pumps profusely throughout, essentially symbolizing the generations of hard scrabble forebearers who toiled during the week, only to have a little celebratory relief on the weekends. On “Musician’s Waltz,” Toups takes the Andrew Cormier and the Rambling Aces lament about the musician’s departing woman and serves it up in a grand, majestic style.
Yet, Toups doesn’t use this as an opportunity to reinvent himself solely as a traditionalist – though that’s an essential part of his musical personality. English-sung tunes like the Corona-party flavored “Southern Women” and the monumental build-up of “Some of Your Love Tonight” shows Toups as a viable force in a radio-ready world—and a preferred one if that should happen. “Louisiana” begins with a today’s new country-type-of-voice while Toups musters as much grit and sweat as humanly possible. On the swamp pop side, the French-sung “Couillon” is an unbelievable tender, touching ballad that, like “Musician’s Waltz,” shows Toups can be quite a passionate vocalist. Score a grand slam for the Toupster, this one’s going in the books as his best ever.
