It's hard to be choosy on southern rock lately! While many fans mourn the announced end of this musical style, young groups regularly prove to us that there is still hope; with Whiskey Myers, The Cadillac Three, Robert Jon, the Steelwoods come to join the pack. After a well-made Straw in the Wind, the group from Nashville released (well at the beginning of last year) an Old News which confirms its ambitions. And when Jason Cope the guitarist and co-founder of the band declares that he grew up listening to Willie Nelson, Lynyrd and Led Zep, we take his word for it given the musical openness and the range of sounds that weave this opus! As on their first album, this one indeed offers a subtle mix between original compositions and covers. And after performing "Hole in the Sky" this time it's "Changes" they borrow from Black Sabbath, proving their lack of musical shackles. They also offer us tracks from Merle Haggard, Townes Van Zandt and nothing less than Greg Allman and Tom Petty! But this album also offers beautiful personal tracks, immersed in a musical atmosphere oriented "South", mixed with blues, country and Americana. From "Pure Southern Rock" to "All Those Years" with a sustained tempo, to very melodic "Wherever you are" with strings and "Old News". With a singer offering similarities to the one of Whiskey Myers, and a very varied musical register, we are certainly not in classic southern rock with guitar battles, but this promising group should allow us to hold on for some time to come.

Chris MARQUIS