Diminutive garage-soul dynamo Erika Wennerstrom has led her band of dire, merry men from Dayton, OH to Austin, TX, and through three excellent longplayers for Fat Possum, and truly sounds better every day. Her latest, for the new Partisan imprint, drops on the obviously appropos Valentine's Day, and a more harrowing, heavy exploration of bad love and rock & roll life I dare you to discover. Like a female Nick Cave, her deep, indomitable, whiskey-soaked vocals dominate the proceedings, and tell the tales we all know and fear. Taut, tough, amorous backing is provided. Are you a heartless bastard?