Part satire of, part sympathy for its subjects, Newman walks a complex tightrope not always with success. For example, if you could listen to Rednecks and sing it as an anthem about yourself, surely the inherent criticism within the satire has failed? And surely there are people proud to stick it to the northern liberal elite by ‘keeping the n-words down‘? Notwithstanding that even in the same song, Newman can’t help but point out the ghettoisation of blacks in northern cities and the conditions in which they live is hardly the success liberals pretend it to be, thus giving further cover to the Redneck racist pride. And if you have to add further songs such as Louisiana to try and explain what you actually think then maybe reconsider what you said in the first place… Newman’s music is sublime throughout, though, taking bluesy roots and New Orleans jazz to concoct an often jovial soundscape in contrast to dark subject matter. And fair enough he wants to explore these subjects and make the audience give some thought to them.