This doesn't surprise me, as it was The New Year which reminded me a little of them. Have you heard the Mermaid Avenue albums, with Billy Bragg, where they were given Woody Guthrie's unused lyrics?
I was listening to it recently there was one song on there that was superb but I can't remember which one. I'll have to listen through again. Of the Alt Country scene stuff this is also superb. Blaze Foley Live at the Austin Outhouse