Truth and Salvage Co.

What do you get when you put four singer-songwriters in one band? Well if the band is Truth and Salvage Co. you get a pretty damn good album, and an even better debut record. They are not afraid to wear the influences on their shoulder and they wear them well. Their mixture of roots-rock and country tones propel this album as a top contender for one of my favorite albums of last year. Produced by Black Crowes lead singer Chris Robinson, the songs have an earthly flow that can be enjoyed anywhere from the mountains to the beach. Songs like "Hail, Hail," "Call Back," and "Jump the Ship" have such a jubilant quality that it makes it hard for the listener to believe that this is just their first album. The songwriting is crisp and when you have four different songwriters the material never gets monotonous or boring, but instead it gives the album a very even pace and you'll be surprised by how easily the record flows that when you listen to the last song you'll forget you just listened to a whole album. The song "Welcome to L.A." should be played at every bus station in Los Angeles so that all the Mid-Western kids getting off the bus to achieve their dreams can get a quick tour of the city via song. Along with having four songwriters they also have four singers and these guys can sing. Harkening back to the complex harmony arrangements of Crosby, Stills, and Nash and The Band, Truth and Salvage blend their harmonies very precisely through each and every song. These guys can play their instruments too. Take "Rise Up," the break down in the middle of the song busts in to a duel guitar solo with matching harmonies. If you are thinking this sounds like The Allman Brothers Band, it does, but tipping your hat to an influence is not necessarily a bad thing. The ultra catchy "Old Piano" is a fine display of what good songwriting and great singing can do for a record. Its melody and great hook are enough to make this song a hit on the radio, but of course they won't play it because radio doesn't play stuff this good anymore. Finally, the closer of the album "Pure Mountain Angel" is one of the most beautiful closers I have ever heard. Its opening gospel-tinged piano playing is elegant and the harmonies are out of this world. It is a fine way to wrap up an album to say the least and I definitely look forward to what this band has in store for the future. If it's anything like their debut record then they will have a long and healthy career.