Dog Days [Audio CD] BR549

Comfortably into their second phase, Dog Days continues the revitalization begun in 2003 with BR549's Tangled in the Pines. Prior to that album co-founder/vocalist Gary Bennett and longtime bassist Jay McDowell departed. Chuck Mead's confident writing (he wrote or co-wrote nine of the set's eleven tunes) embraces honkytonk, country weepers, roadhouse rave-ups and gospel --the latter inclination is given glorious wings by guest singers the Jordanaires on "The Devil in Me." Throughout, their sharp mix of acoustic and electric instruments makes for a rich and warm sound. One of the band's strengths is their ability to flow through contrasting styles, making it all sound like their own, resulting in a bracing full album experience. -- David Greenberger