Innovation is all about the collision of previously established styles, and Danny Barnes"s Bad Livers offer a particularly striking series of violent stylistic encounters. Bluegrass, blues, ragtime, old-time, country, Cajun, and conjunto bounce around their cauldron with reckless abandon. In truth, this kind of potent mixture is ages old, dating back to early 20th-century string bands and extending through much of 1930s Western swing. Barnes"s lyrics add a dose of 1990s irony to traditional themes, although they fit rather well next to old-time romps such as Cluck Old Hen. The Livers" freewheeling attitude and lighthearted approach balance nicely with their serious instrumental chops. --Marc Greilsamer