It's pretty much just bagpipes and drums. But, damn, it's bloody brilliant.

Off Kilter, the fourth album by yet another Scottish contingent from Texas, the Rogues, is a keeper without a doubt. And that's even after hearing band member Bryan Blaylock's very bad Scottish accent on "Jolly George," a set including "Jolly Beggarman" and "Pipe Major George Allen."

The band consists of pipers and drummers: Blaylock on bodhran and other percussion, Lars Sloan on Highland pipes, shuttle pipes, bongos and claves, Jimmy Mitchell on Highland pipes, and Randy Wothke on Scottish snare, bodhran, doumbek, keyboard, congas and other percussion.

On some tracks ("Leprechaun and Butterfly"), they sound like a small pipe and drum band. On others ("Pipes in Space," "Pipe Major-Domo") the percussion is a little less traditional and a little more distinctive. And then there are the tracks where they leave tradition to the wind, like the amusing "'Scuse Me?" featuring two Sloan originals, "The Puddin Race" and "Clan McClugh." "Miss P.," written by Sloan for his wife, Paula, begins as a pipe and keyboard duet before the percussionists get busy.

Another Sloan tune, "Guinness Dog," was written for his late canine friend and features her barking as punctuation. The hidden track #13 at least claims that the boys in the band are all accomplished stepdancers ... but I have my doubts. (Actually, a careful reading of the liner notes reveals the perpetrators to be Christina Danley, Leslie Mack and Anthony Smith of the Texas Tap Ensemble. You didn't fool me for a minute, guys, despite your clever banter!)

This is certainly an album worth checking out if you enjoy the sounds of pipes and drums and if you like a bit of creative play with your music. There's nothing dull or boring here.