The Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers [FLAC+MP3] (Big Papi)

This is one of those discs I don't have to be in the mood for--it always works. This is pure, unpretentious rock and roll by a man who compares his brand of rock to a cheeseburger.

Bad to the Bone has been played and played to death. But nearly every song is a little gem, an old fashioned rock feel to the proceedings on tracks like You Talk Too Much, Gear Jammer, I Drink Alone. The oft covered Bo Diddley classic Who Do You Love (once used by Nike to sell sneakers) is a snarling song full of attitude.

I Drink Alone is either a romping good tune or a cry for help from Thorogood himself. Yeah right. George Thorogood makes no secret that he likes drinking, likes driving a truck, likes whiskey, bourbon, scotch, beer, has a woman who talks too much, and will, when push comes to shove, leave his woman if she doesn't start drinking, too. This is about as manly as it gets; enough listens and you'll start challenging people to feats of strength at your local bar.

In a world where rockers like to whine about their personal problems and how confusing the world is, you can depend on Thorogood to do anything but. He straps on a guitar and name drops Jack Daniels "and his partner Jimmy Beam".