Partisan

Someone’s really gotta tell hard-partying rocker John McCauley to slow down. Not only does the growly-voiced singer front Deer Tick and recently contribute songs to semi-supergroup Middle Brother, but he’s also now heading up a third project, Diamond Rugs, whose self-titled debut is full of rough-edged barroom rockers reminiscent of The Black Keys and the Alabama Shakes in your dive of choice’s jukebox. On this one, he’s put together a new band of kindaall- stars: he’s got help from some of his Deer Tick brethren, as well as members of Los Lobos, Dead Confederate, The Black Lips and Six Finger Satellite, which means that songs like “Totally Lonely” reek as much of desert air as “Call Girl Blues” smells like stripper perfume.