Comprised of members from THE SAINTE CATHERINES, who play loud, brash HOT WATER MUSIC/ LAWRENCE ARMS style punk rock, YESTERDAY’S RING does not. They’ve calmed the distortion, soothed the tempo, and embraced country and rock n’ roll; they do it well. Half the album is despondent and mellow, borrowing from LUCERO’S agitated alt-country mental state, and taking the twang from THE ROLLING STONE’S more pure-country tunes (think “Sweet Virginia” off of Exile on Main-Street). The other half hasn’t forgotten it’s punk-background, rather it melds THE SAINTE CATHERINES angst with the melodies of our timeless American past.

Diamonds in the Ditch contains hard-numbers to fuel the till-dawn rage and quiet, gloomy tracks to dulcify the next morning hang-over. “Email From Lucie” fits in the latter category. It’s a trudging bummer featuring a story-telling attempt by vocalist Hugo Mudie, and not the kind with a happy ending. Apocalyptic guitars sound like haunting church-bell’s, chiming underneath Mudie’s ruminations about American immigrant struggles: “I was alone barely eating for weeks / riding the grey-hound and I couldn’t fall asleep /changing my clothes every half-hour / I was afraid I’d be caught by police.” “Roses” is a standard acoustic country number, embellished with the trill of a soothing accordion and a gently plucked banjo. However, the song’s beauty lies only in the music. In contrast to the gorgeously-simple instrumentation, the lyrics are sad and scathing, like smoking a cheap-cigerette after a glass of full-bodied Cabernet: “Little girl you looked alright / But I wanted you just for tonight / Little girl you’re kind-of funny / But damn / You’re just boring like everyone else.”

Diamonds in the Ditch is not all slow and sorrow. Songs like “Moving Back (To Montreal)” drive-forward fast, Mudie’s gruff vocals riding atop barely metal and almost blues riffs amidst crashing symbols and palm-muted distortion, almost like if THE REPLACEMENTS covered a MOTORHEAD song. “They Oughta Name a Drink After Me” is part mosh pit-churner, part barn-burner, running at a punk-rock tempo, Mudie’s gnarly-rasp only fueling the fire; hiding just below the ruckus is a less-gently plucked banjo, played with a heaviness that perfectly matches the song’s intensity. The occasional blasts of energy provide much needed variation in an album that would be pretty down otherwise.

Diamonds in the Ditch is a good album on it’s own, but it’s especially pleasant for a couple of Canadian punks who decided to try their had at country music; the singer says it best in the ironic “Sad Songs” over a straight from BOB DYLAN harmonica cry: “I never spent time in Georgia or Texas / I never road on a train or a horse / I’ll still make you cry with my song.” Country purists should stay away, because YESTERDAY’S RING is much harsher than anything you’d hear at your local saloon. Fans of alt-country and punk rock, however, will definitely appreciate Diamonds in the Ditch. YESTERDAY’S RING filled my small kitchen with sadness, and I’m not complaining in the least.

Aquarius Records / Suburban Home Records / Yo Yo Records

www.myspace.com/yesterdaysringmtl