The second album since siblings Curt and Cris Kirkwood reunited their iconic alt-rock outfit continues the tug-of-war between charmingly askew country rock and mildly deranged psychedelia that marked their ’80s–’90s run. But Meat Puppets 2.0 is a more polished, less accidental venture than the original, which isn’t necessarily a drawback. The interplay of Curt’s drowsy vocals and freaky guitar can still induce vertiginous spells — witness the dreamy yet insistent “Blanket of Weeds” — while the snappy “Love Mountain” reveals the clever pop craftsman behind his woozy persona.
