Vince Herman is no stranger to Americana. As frontman/guitarist/washboard player for Leftover Salmon, he boldly went where no band had gone before and explored new worlds of Americana.

With his band, Great American Taxi, he continues to blaze new trails in the world of Americana music, and the band’s new album, “Paradise Lost,” is a great example. After performing numerous shows backing critically-acclaimed songwriter Todd Snider and appearing on his latest live album, “The Storyteller,” GAT tapped him to produce its new album, with superb results.

Musically, “Paradise Lost” captures all the excitement of Taxi's upbeat country, bluegrass, rockin’, no-holds-barred Americana style. Songs like “Poor House,” “Gonna Make a Record,” “Radiation Blues” and “Swamp Song” are guaranteed to make you put on your boogie shoes and dance, but the real brilliance of the album is in its message. With a nod to folk icon Woody Guthrie, Great American Taxi tackles social and political issues deftly and with great clarity.

Important issues like mountaintop removal, poverty and a poor economy, nuclear energy and soldiers returning from war are just a few of the issues taken on by the band with great eloquence and passion. Add to this guest appearances by pedal-steel master Barry Sless, multi-instrumentalist Tim O'Brien, Elizabeth Cook and Todd Snider, plus a cover of Atlanta icon Ralph Roddenbery's “Maud Only Knows,” you've got one great album.

The performances are stellar, the ardor is palpable, the fun is through the roof. I'll take this Taxi anytime.

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