One doesn't recall Omar the Howlers as a straight-out jump blues combo, but it looks as if they're on the bandwagon with this CD. Omar Dykes has a squirrelly voice that falls between sandpaper gruff and churlish shouting, a cross twixt Dr. John and Howlin' Wolf. Help from the capable Howlers, big-time backup from saxophonists David Fathead Newman and Mark Kaz Kazanoff and harmonica whiz Gary Primich on three cuts gives Omar, who also plays guitar throughout, all the support and inspiration he needs. As much as the band does predictably jump and swing hard on the majority of these cuts, there's always a surprise. Obvious choices like Hit the Road Jack, Just Like a Woman, and the hardest swinger So Mean to Me come naturally. Taj Mahal's loping Going up to the Country is one that fits Omar's range perfectly, and he really cops "the Wolf" on Yellow Coat. The most daring move is his singing the Oscar Brown, Jr. lyrics to Nat Adderley's Work Song with the saxophonists trading licks nicely, or Charles Brown's lesser-known upbeat flag-waver That's Your Daddy Yaddy-O. An instrumental version of the famous Albert Collins number Don't Lose Your Cool really cooks, Omar and Derek O'Brien on electric six strings working out. And they do return to their straight blues base on the final two cuts, Primich standing up firmly and wailing on One Room Country Shack, the band getting down right dirty and nasty on Alligator Wine. Swing Land has lots of teeth and the bite to match. It's sincere, authentic, well played, and represents better than a lot of the phony swing bands copying songs and well-worn riffs. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi

1		Mr. Blues Is Coming to Town
2		Ain't That Just Like a Woman
3		Hit the Road, Jack
4		Yellow Coat
5		Don't Lose Your Cool
6		Work Song
7		So Mean to Me
8		Going Up to the Country
9		That's Your Daddy Yaddy Yo
10		Quiet Whiskey
11		One Room Country Shack
12		Alligator Wine