Robert Randolph and the Family Band are like a breath of fresh air in the stale music industry.

"Unclassified," the group's latest release, beautifully meshes funk, blues, Latin, rock, country and gospel into a brilliant, adrenaline-filled collection of great tunes.

Whether laying down instrumental jams or lyrically driven rock, the group's disc has something others lack. They're in sync though they go off on individual tangents. They're disciplined, but they're madcap. They defy genre while adding their own twist to everything.

This is the kind of group with the ability to speak through its music, and the effectiveness of the vocals is overshadowed by the good feeling of the music itself. It refuses to compromise as it hammers its way into the brain through solid beats and a great solo by Randolph, arguably the Hendrix of the pedal steel slide guitar.

The fluid and peacefully soothing "Soul Refreshing" could come off as corny had it been done by lesser musicians. Randolph, on the other hand, makes the bouncy and delightful music grab you.

"Squeeze" opens with a trippy intro that gives way to some extremely skilled slap bass from Danyel Morgan, who proves himself a rhythmic force to be reckoned with. It kicks off an instrumental funk-fest full of melodic guitar. Morgan shows he is up there with bass masters Flea and Les Claypool as he rips his instrument to the fullest.

This is easily the album's standout. It's jam-packed with more funk than nearly any group out there. When it peaks with Randolph riding high on an impressive solo, the whole thing comes together.

The accompanying video concert and studio footage packaged with the record verifies an assumption easily made by listening to the disc - these guys are having a blast.