Cheap Wine expertly combines Lou Reed, Replacements-style guitar rock rock, along with an inclination for letting the songs move and feeling the groove as it intensifies. Wow! Brothers Marco Diamantini (vocals, guitar) and Michelle Diamantini (guitars), with Francesco Zanotti (drums), Alessandro Grazioli (bass) are the kind of band you want to surround yourself in. Even the lazy, wandering drawls that Marco breathes into the mic are loaded with frenetic forethought as Michelle's guitar weaves beautifully seductive only to blister and flare. Man, this where you'll find it if you think you lost it; and where you'll get it if you haven't got it.

I don't speak Italian, and I can't read Italian, so whatever was in the press kit that I received from Cheap Wine is a mystery to me. What's crystal clear, however, is that rock and roll knows no geographic boundaries. How a band from Italy comes out sounding like The Sidewinders and Green On Red crossed with classic-era Stones isn't important, the fact that they do is what matters. The GOR references are everywhere - the band's name comes from a Dan Stuart song (covered on their CD A Better Place) and both guitar players have obviously listened to a lot of lyrical players like Chuck Prophet. "Walkin Away", available on MP3, finds the quartet sailing out of the gate with a drum-propelled rocker that features harmonic guitar lines from Marco and Michele Diamantini; Rich Hopkins fans will do double-takes. "A Better Place" and "Dark Angels" explore the acoustically darker, Cowboy Junkies play "Sweet Jane" area of the aural soundscape. The vocals are sung in English, and Marco does not have a strong or classic voice, but he conveys emotion that matches well with the material. As a testament to good taste, they list their favorite bands on the "thank you" page of the CD booklet, and if your record collection were limited to those artists, you'd be in good hands. Repeated plays only endear me further.