A common theme of blues music is that of the second chance. Be it jilted lovers or unemployed derelicts, many blues songs tell the tale of a narrator lamenting loss and seeking redemption. In that regard, it is ftting that Hurray for the Riff Raff’s second album, Young Blood Blues, features a dramatic augmentation—and improvement—of the band’s sound.

To be fair, Hurray for the Riff Raff’s first effort, It Doesn’t Mean I Don’t Love You, was a good album. The disc was filled with delicate folk reminiscent of the Woody Guthrie ballads from the Great Depression. And while the melodies were beautiful and the songs were heartbreaking, the album ran too long and was at times too fragile for its own good. On the more concise Young Blood Blues, Hurray for the Riff Raff sound more energized and confident. “Is That You?” begins with vocals and banjo, seemingly catching vocalist Alynda Lee Segarra in mid-breath. The ethereal folk that was the band’s mainstay on its first record doesn’t last long here until driving drum hits inject immediacy and propulsion into the song. The drums on Young Blood Blues are much more prominent than on its predecessor, which gives a higher sense of drama to the songs which feature them and more impact to the band’s signature ballads when they are absent.

Perhaps most telling is that Hurray for the Riff Raff utilizes its second chance to remake “Little Things,” the closing track from the band’s first album. What was once a dirge has morphed into a driving swing decorated by an ominous accordion, showing the band has traded the intimacy found on its debut for urgency. Some fans may scoff at the retread, but the band’s new approach displays growth and improvement. While not a traditional blues record, the energized and foreboding Depression-era folk juxtaposed against tales of love lost, drug addiction, and grisly murder ensure that the album’s title is a fitting one, and that the band has made the most of its second chance.