Elizabeth McQueen and the Firebrands
Happy Doing What We're Doing
(Freedom ***)

Although pub-rock developed in England in the early '70s, it's a music to which Elizabeth McQueen can relate, because the Austin, Texas, firecracker plays a similar kind of roots-pop in bars. Happy Doing What We're Doing is a rocking little salute to that precursor of punk and new wave, and one of the most fun records of the year.McQueen and her band, augmented by some of Austin's top musicians, tear through these tunes with an affection and enthusiasm that live up to the album title. And what a collection of songs: They come from Nick Lowe, who cowrote the title track; Graham Parker; and other well-known names to emerge from pub-rock, as well as more obscure acts such as Ducks Deluxe and Dr. Feelgood.McQueen changes pace neatly for Elvis Costello's moody "Almost Blue," but it all ends, appropriately enough, with a piano-pounding romp through "Seven Nights to Rock."

- Nick Cristiano