Washington DC area’s Ruthie and the Wranglers have done it again. Their latest release, AMERICANA EXPRESS, packs 12 tracks with creativity, talent, and fun. The CD opens with the revved-up tune, "In the Tank," featuring a welcome collaboration of all three accomplished lyricists (Logsdon, Hardin and Starks). The band has grown to a 5-piece—bringing in piano and three-part harmonies. The group’s diverse instrumentation and some special guests help satiate the band’s desire to travel in some new directions. Accordion adds Tex-Mex flavor to "Life and Death and Hope and Dreams," a tune penned by Greg Hardin. "SurfTango" shows guitarist Phil Mathieu’s knack for thinking-outside-the-box and is a perfect follow up to the last CD’s popular instrumental Surftilicus. On track eight, pianist Bill Starks adds his timely sing-along-anthem about staying "one step ahead of the Repo Man" and "The Last Word in Love" cries out to Bluegrass lovers with i...