Prescott Curlywolf was already established as a heavy hitter in the Austin rock lineup by the time of the band's major label debut, 1996's Six Ways to Sunday, and this album is proof as to why the group has such a dedicated and vocal following. With a sound built around no depression-style Sturm und Twang and Born to Run-era Springsteen, Prescott Curlywolf kicks out hook-heavy anthems and quieter, more introspective numbers with equal skill, though Six Ways to Sunday certainly leans to the rock end of the spectrum. The loud, catchy, and upbeat "Hooray," for example, is a brilliant track, complete with a singalong chorus, soaring backing vocals, and an explosive, dumb grin-inducing guitar solo. "Celebrate Ray," another of the album's standouts, is a paean to society's blissfully ignorant underbelly, with the narrator crooning "We are simple people, with simple little lives/All our thoughts are simple, can't you hear our simple cry?" over a soothing bassline before the songs breaks into its thrashing, angry chorus. The instrumentation is ragged and exciting throughout the album, and the production highlights the rough-hewn beauty of the songs, especially on the melancholy "Accent." All over this collection, Prescott Curlywolf injects melody with energy, outrage, and wide-eyed joy, making Six Ways to Sunday a great piece of big, smart rock. ~ Brandon Gentry