Brothers of the Southland - Brothers of the Southland (2009)

So many musicians are involved in Brothers of the Southland that it seems more like a project than a band. Going by the back cover, at any rate, there seem to be eight core members, including musicians who've done time with the Outlaws, Wet Willie, and the Black Crowes, as well as -- and it's not a misprint -- Bo Bice, the 2005 American Idol runner-up. Over half of the tracks were written or co-written by bandmembers and/or associates, though there's a smattering of outside contributions, as well as a nod to their influences with a cover of the Allman Brothers' "Dreams." Given their pedigrees, it's no surprise that Brothers of the Southland play classic-style Southern rock, enough so that at times they sound like a Southern rock tribute band that happens to play mostly original material. In addition to the fusion of blues-rock and hard rock so typical of the form, there are touches of soul (and occasional horns), gospel, and heavy metal braggadocio. If that brings to mind strutting boogies with overlong solos, yeah, there are a few such things here. Those are balanced out, however, by a good number of more reflective, at times sadness-tinged slower tunes; very occasionally, it even sounds a bit, though just a bit, like early-'70s Van Morrison.~Richie Unterberger