Although raised in the decidedly urban environs of Hoboken, the Delevantes (fronted by brothers Bob and Mike) delivered a pair of intriguing, moderately successful discs in the mid-to-late-’90s with a sound cozily rooted in a convincing extrapolation of the Everly Brothers’ countrified rock ‘n’ roll. The duo split shortly thereafter, although Mike chipped in on Bob’s cool 1999 solo debut, Porchlight. More than six years later, Delevante has finally returned to the fray with a sterling set of punchy, literate tunes that deftly straddle, even blur, the borders between country-rock, pop, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll.
The singer’s agreeable, adenoidal pipes (think Buddy Holly with less “hiccup” and more twang) are given stylish, energetic support from a crew of longtime mates drawn from his Jersey shore and Nashville bases. Bassist Garry Tallent anchors the rhythm section with tag-team drummers Bryan Owings and Paul Griffith, Jody Nardone handles keys, and Kenny Vaughn, Buddy Miller, Phil Madeira and John Sieger take lead guitar turns. Marybeth Cysewski, Joe Pisapia and Emmylou Harris (on the gorgeous “Things I Long To Hear”) supply vocal counterpoint, with extra textures added by Fats Kaplin, Southside Johnny, Mike Porter, Dave Jacques, Paul Deakin and Tim Coats.
Attention grabbers include the infectious title cut, the kinetic “Circles Round Me”, the galloping “Texarkana State Of Mind”, and a delightful, Holly-esque remodel of the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop”. Truth be told, it’s all center-cut.