CACTUS

A band of competent sidemen who had a shit-kickin' good time in the '70s without ever actually, you know, writing much of a song, CACTUS recently reunited to do more of the same. With SAVOY BROWN frontman Jimmy Kunes replacing the deceased Rusty Day, the core of the band — drummer Carmine Appice, bassist Tim Bogert and guitarist Jim McCarty remains intact, and so does their penchant for amiable, if somewhat forgettable, blues-rock swagger.

This is meat-and-potatoes bar-band blues rock at its best, with one of the most rock-solid rhythm sections in the business, good-time bluesy licks from McCarty, and throaty, charismatic vocals. These guys are way too old and savvy to do anything but play to their strengths — you're not gonna hear anything on "V" that wouldn't go down a storm at a Sturgis biker rally, or an opening slot for the equally workmanlike modern-day MOLLY HATCHET. The harmonica on standout track "The Groover" brings the band's Brit-blues influences, which in turn have seeped into everyone from FIVE HORSE JOHNSON to RAGING SLAB, full circle, furthering the band's B-list credentials and acquitting these gracefully-aging rockers well.

This is one of those reunions that falls squarely in the middle of the spectrum, between a glorious reinvention of a band's original sound and a total disaster. The world could probably have done without the self-congratulatory "Cactus Music" and the chooglin' "Living For Today", but by the same token, who can get mad at such a well-made collection of ear-friendly backyard summertime rock and roll? CACTUS doesn't really stand up to intense analysis or scrutiny, but that's not quite the point – just pop it in, hit play and put the pedal to the metal. Fun music for an age that could use some.