HE'S only 25, moved around a bit, used to be a rodeo rider - Ryan Bingham is the real deal you only have to hear him play to know it. Then he starts singing.

He's the kind of guy the Kings of Leon sing about, but never got to know. Remember when the Meat Puppets went bluegrass? Nope? Well, you should.

Bingham sounds like Caleb Followill boiled his larynx in bourbon then filtered it through Joe Ely and Neil Young.

Musically, there's a gallon of country, a flood of bluegrass banjo and a good couple of fingers of pure Mexican gold.

The Spanish-sung Boracho Station aches with atmosphere, Don't Wait For Me is a beautifully sorry sigh, while the Stonesy bar-room boogie on Take it Easy Mama sounds like a bottle being smashed on a trucker's head.