Lowdown And Dirty is the debut album from Lincoln, Nebraska based band FortyTwenty (also fondly referred to by the shorthand version of their name '4020'). FortyTwenty is fronted by David Wilson (vocals, fiddle, acoustic guitar) with the rest of the band being rounded out by a crack group of co-members/musicians: Lern Tilton (Dog-House bass, vocals), J.J. King (drums, vocals), Lloyd McCarter (pedal-steel, vocals), and Jon Bradley (vocals, lead guitar, dobro). The band's songwriting is evenly divided between David and Lern who each contribute five well written, strong songs to the album.

With slogans like 'Purveyors of Fine Music' and 'So Country It'll Make You Puke,' FortyTwenty's sound is a little bit Hank Sr. and Buck, a pinch of Jason Boland and Mike McClure tossed in, along with touches of Hank III, Wayne Hancock and Jason and the Scorchers- a refreshing concoction the band then mixes well. FortyTwenty tear their way through Lowdown And Dirty showing off a few different styles of honky tonk putting their own unique stamp on each one. They offer up a pair of drinking songs in driving, raucous roadhouse honky tonk tradition with "Drink About Her" and "Lowdown Dirty Drinkin'." There's a matching set of outstanding two-steppers, "Dreaming Big And Livin' Small" about watching the world pass you by, and the yodel laced lost love lament "Broken Heartland." The band delivers a hillbilly honky tonker by way of "Honky-Tonk Me" and a waltzing "Cowboys And Hippies." The mid-tempo fiddle driven "What Women Say" is a shuffling done-me-wrong tale, while another standout "Hang Around," is about staying true. FortyTwenty throw it into overdrive with the alcohol themed "The Wagon" and the heartbroke tale "Angel" that they deliver with such breakneck speed and ferocious intensity that they threaten to veer wildly out of control any second- yet remain firmly in control for the whole wicked ride.

FortyTwenty is beginning to pick up steam in breaking out from the pack of hardworking, hardcore regional bands determined to keep country music country. They've recently shared the stage with other like-minded artists such as Hank III, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Teddy Morgan, BR549, The Derailers, Honeybrowne, No Justice, Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys, Stoney LaRue and Mike McClure, among others, which is sure to give the boys in FortyTwenty the needed (and much deserved) exposure to capture a broader audience. They've also just won 1st place in the Comstock Battle of the Bands, which garnered them a coveted slot on the main stage at the Comstock Windmill Festival with acts that include Chris LeDoux. The 'exposure' part seems to be coming along nicely, and after one listen to FortyTwenty, they should have absolutely no problem 'capturing' a larger audience beyond regional boundaries.  

Standout Tracks:  "Drink About Her," "Dreamin' Big and Livin' Small," "The Wagon," "Hang Around," "Angel," "Broken Heartland," "Cowboys and Hippies"

On The Net:  www.fortytwenty.com