Sometimes the release of a new record (album, CD, what have you), feels like seeing an old friend again, and all the better if said friend is looking healthy and happy. When last we saw Lazy Lester, on 1998s wonderful comeback CD All Over You, the swamp-blues master and Southwest Louisiana harp legend seemed to be living in his past, as good as it was to finally have him back.

This time around, though, he seems more vital than ever, fairly jumping with new energy right from the opening title track, a bit of unfinished business his old Excello boss J.D. Miller wouldn’t let him cover. The producer and band are the same here as on All Over You, but with the very notable addition of Texas axe legend Jimmie Vaughan on lead guitar; his playing gives a little extra snap to Lester classics like “Go Ahead.” Lester relies a little less on those classics this time around, too, stretching out for excellent takes on Lee Dorsey’s “Ya Ya,” Jimmy Reed’s “I Love You, Baby” and Little Brother Montgomery’s ancient “No Special Rider,” not to mention two gems from the back catalog of Lester’s peer Slim Harpo: “I’m Your Breadmaker, Baby” and “I’m Gonna Miss You (Like The Devil).” Whatever’s causing Lester to brim over with such energy, it has the perverse (yet welcome) effect of warping his style just a bit; this is definitely the least swampy and most upbeat swamp-blues album you’ve heard in many a year. Lazy? Now, less than ever.