By Ryan Sexton, Assistant Entertainment Editor

Venerable rock critic Robert Christgau called them “the world’s most visionary band.” Whatever they are, Gogol Bordello has an ever-growing following of young people sick of the cultural dead end of hipster derived sounds; or at the least, trying to compliment the Urban Outfitters soundtracks on their iPods.

Gogol Bordello’s new release ‘Trans-Continental Hustle” is an interesting amalgam of many parts. The band embodies the aesthetic, sonically and in garb, of gypsy punk. But emanating from their crunchy rock punctuated with scathing vocals are visages of many bands, including Led Zeppelin and your favorite Bulgarian wedding music.

Frontman Eugene Hutz, of Roma and Ukrainian descent, is indelible on stage as a sweaty, slovenly, screaming real life gypsy. To this record, he brings a kind of incessant neuroticism to each song. Like Brian May said of Muse, Gogol Bordello is not afraid to “let their madness shine through.”

Certainly, there’s not much that makes sense about the songs “My Companjera,” or “When Universes Collide,” but that’s not what music’s really about. If you want music with a purpose, go hit a bubbler and throw on some Tool. See how far you get.

However, prevailing themes do emerge: heartbreak, political anger and misanthropy. The album stays on the lighter side of rock until “Immigraniada,” a more punk-oriented track. When distortion gets involved on the guitars, it’s hard to not picture Gogol Bordello as a struggling eurotrash Ramones coverband with poor English. But it’s still quite fun.

“Sun is on My Side” starts off with an Al Di Meola-like guitar dance. The haunting unintelligible choruses provide a sad séance dynamic along with Hutz’s Borat-like voice. The band clearly could care less if you giggle while they play: this is a group that lives in the moment and loves what they do. As they say in “Rebellious Love” ‘never know what comes again.’ Once you soften into the sound, not unlike an uncomfortable yoga pose, it’s hard to admit that you dislike it, particularly because of its genuineness.

Irrespective of the band, the production is a bit hit or miss. Sometimes it’s a bit light on the bass, and other times, it’s a full, rich wall of sound. Either way, it sounds organic and not in the least bit contrived. It’s hard, when so much has been done in music, to come up with something that deviates from the old formulas, which with a little heat, most music reduces down to in the pot. But Gogol Bordello, with “Trans Continental Hustle” provides another example of how they forgot about the common path long ago.

Eugene Hutz on the cover of ‘Trans-Continental Hustle’ ( GogolBordello.com)