Bushido Karaoke, Mayday's third and most intriguing LP, has a grittier and more rhythmic feel than their freshman and sophomore records. Many of the tracks have a big-band sound, complete with strings and a storytelling texture. Nick Cave is channeled through Ted Stevens' dark, twangy vocals, particularly in tracks like "Sanding in Line at the Gates of Hell," where he seems to embrace the messier qualities of his craft; one wonders if this is how the record got its name (bushido literally translates to "way of the warrior"). Complex and rich, each song presents its listeners with a maze of sound, resting on the intersections between rock, country and folk. While Mayday has always been identified with an Americana style, Bushido Karaoke extends the classic elements of their Midwestern heritage by inviting in a gothic ribbon that runs straight through the center of this album.