Ninth Ward Pickin’ Parlor

Reviewed by:
David Peisner

Has there ever been a flukier hit than Shawn Mullins’ 1998 take-a-walk-on-the-mild-side folk-rap, “Lullaby”? Probably not, but that’s no reason to dismiss him out of hand. His latest shuffles confidently between pleasant acoustic ditties, noir-ish country blues and sturdy, jangling rock. From time to time, Mullins unleashes a soulful holler that makes you wonder why he insists on mumbling so much, but his restless energy at least keeps things from devolving into a typical coffeehouse snooze.