While their parasitic arachnid counterparts ravage campers, these Ticks bring me unparalleled pleasure.  Ever since my first exposure to War Elephant (2007), I have found brilliance in their albums.  Sounding like a rustic, Rocky Mountain prospector, John J. McCauley III’s grating vocals sound every bit as rough as the twenty-mile trudge that separates him from his lover. But as painful as his journey may be, I bounce along with the stand-up bass and nod my head to the beat, knowing that his pain is my pleasure.  Ironic, yes, but that’s the best part.