Tyron Benoit’s debut is without doubt the best swamp-rock album ever to open with a Cure cover. His version of “Just Like Heaven” is surprisingly faithful—even with his accordion taking the familiar guitar and keyboard licks—though his voice is far tougher than Robert Smith could manage. And since the album’s loose-knit theme is about having some fun on a weekend, it makes perfect sense to open with a classic slow dance.

Overall, Benoit (brother of Tab, who aids in production but doesn’t play here) makes the common debut-album move of showing everything he can do on one disc. While homegrown Louisiana rock is his base, he’s clearly listened to the radio over the years: “Right Now” has an echoed guitar opening that smacks of U2, while the closing “Bayouside”—the biggest departure here with its low-fi beatbox sound—has a few echoes of the Barenaked Ladies hit “One Week.” At his best, Benoit works the territory of vintage Zachary Richard or Wayne Toups: hard-driving, arena-ready rock that keeps the Louisiana elements up front and the accordion high in the mix. The first-class studio band includes familiar names like guitarist Shane Theriot and keyboardist David Torkanowsky (plus jam-scene stalwarts Kevin Scott and Doug Belotte on bass and drums) and he gives them some strong material to work with. “Going Back That Way” is a zydeco number that rocks, while the title track and “Good Thing” are arena-ready rockers with fist-waving choruses. Oddly “Feels Like Home”—the song he wrote and recorded for a Rouse’s ad campaign last Christmas—is not included, though he does include a much sadder song about going back home, “One More Tequila,” which is the one break from the high spirits elsewhere.

If you know his backstory, Benoit’s had an interesting life. He was a Marine during Desert Storm and a working actor in New York, but if he chooses to stay in music from now on, this album gives him plenty to work with.