If they gave out historical plagues to groups, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band would have one affixed to the front of their bass drum head. That's because over the course of 40 years, a few personnel changes and enough musical inspiration to fire up audiences around the world, this group has always kept the quality control department open twenty-four hours a day. That's probably because Jeff Hanna, John McEuen, Jimmie Fadden and Bob Carpenter feel a large measure of pride in the music they play, and aren't about to be bedazzled by the flashing lights from the glitzy side of Nashville or anywhere else. They are, in many ways, musicologists as well as modern country players, and take delight in exploring the waterfront of sounds they've always excelled at. On Speed Of Life, it feels like the Dirt Band is stretching out at the same time they're focusing on what they do best. They have found a fistful of moving new songs, from writers like Shawn Camp, Matraca Berg, Gary Scruggs, Guy Clark and others, along with plenty by themselves, and cast them with the strength of character that has all the solidity of granite. These fellows just flat-out know what they're doing. To make sure there are some swinging surprises, they also veer into two eye-opening cover choices on Canned Heat's "Going Up the Country" and Stealer's Wheel "Stuck in the Middle." The former is a perfect idea, letting the band stick their feet in blues waters without losing their own distinctive touch, while the latter has always been a modern rock classic. It's hard to miss, especially with McEuen's banjo plucking away behind a song that was originally thought to be a Bob Dylan original. Wrapping up one of the best albums of their long career, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band head directly for bayou country on "Good To Be Alive," giving a guide to living guaranteed at any speed. Bon ton roulet all the way.