If you put your headphones on and listen to Roots & Crowns the results are overwhelming, to the point of being somewhat disturbing. The clinks and clanks of found percussive items are met with some really raunchy hog pen blues and all the while an electronic thrum stitches the whole thing together. On Roots & Crowns, Califone become the World's most accomplished jug band.

The electronic elements on this album are hidden behind a screeching violin; a twangy acoustic guitar and an organ; so as to almost completely disappear save for a few bleeps and quavering aural edges. At moments the sounds seem to have been recorded by someone walking around with a handheld mike. The somewhat muffled sounds of people interacting from a distance almost give the album a live feel and then the next song starts.

Roots & Crowns is also very much about juxtaposition. The tick tock tempo of "Black Metal Valentine" precedes the ghostly "Rose Petal Ear" and the pairing is spectacular. The pop friendly "3 Legged Animals" is followed by the dragging dirge of "If You Would" and again the results are somehow cohesive; working to make Roots & Crowns an actual album as opposed to a collection of separate songs.

My only beef with Califone is lead singer Tim Rutili's voice. Rutili's rasp, reminiscent of Beck, never changes... there are no shifts in pitch, tempo or dynamics. Lyrically things are interesting but Rutili's voice is so static that it almost stands in the way of the beautiful sounds on Roots & Crowns. It's not that Rutili is an unappealing singer but his style is completely bedtime story hypnotic and some of these tracks could use some more excitement. Maybe Tim needs a speed habit or at least a Dunkin Donuts large?

Get this album. Strap on your headphones. Pay attention. Califone's latest offering is not to be missed and certainly one of the best albums of 2006.