Jeff Klein recorded The Hustler - his third album - in New Orleans at the insistence of co-producer Greg Dulli of Afghan Whigs. The result is that unlike the sparse Everbody Loves A Winner, this album has been dipped in a bath of what Klein calls 'liquid sin' and is a much more lush and atmospheric affair.

On the front of the album, Klein is sitting on a leather sofa looking suave with a drink and a cigarette in his hand, and the music he creates captures that image almost perfectly. You can almost smell the smoke coming out of your speakers...

This isn't Mardi Gras music though, far from it in fact. The Hustler and The 19th Hole are both still quite sparse and almost elegaic at times, and while Nearly Motionless has more of a beat chugging it along towards the chorus.

Suzanne is much more upbeat, with Dave Pirner from Soul Aslyum providing backing vocals and the horn section from Brian Wilson's band helping it bounce along.

As always, the lyrics are very personal, which Klein admits can sometimes be a problem: "It does get me into trouble sometimes. I always change the names to protect the innocent, but there are some people who know that some songs are blatantly about them and their experiences. I know my family hear my songs and wonder what the hell is going on. I don't always make the smartest choices in the world, but I have no regrets. I enjoy it. Everybody needs to make mistakes."

And Klein does take some mis-steps on The Hustler, which at times is a little dull and some songs do seem to take an age to get anywhere, while others get lost in a fug of atmosphere. Stripped isn't one of those though, with both Pirner and Ani Di Franco backing him up and giving the song plenty of depth and character. Bizarrely, Ironside features an the singing talents of an Australian exotic dancer...

Cobalt Hue perhaps best sums up Klein's repertoire, starting out with just him accompanying himself on the piano before distorted drums kick in, eventually building up to a singalong finale. The title also describes the atmosphere of the album as a whole, which certainly has some kind of hue, probably the colour of whiskey.