Round & Round, Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds

Round & Round, Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds, 2013, :24

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Modern blue-eyed soul-rock.  Faithful to the classics, with all the requisite falsetto and whooping the genre dictates, yet fresh and full of modern energy.  However, it's not all dance party.  "Good Love" is a nearly a cappella hymn-like love song, and "Take a Chance" is an old school pleading song, Clark's voice vibrating with emotion as he begs his lady to try him out.  Favorite tracks: "Round & Round," "Summer Girls," "Burn You Up."

Magpie and the Dandelion, Avett Brothers

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2013. 

Magpie and the Dandelion, Avett Brothers, 2013, :43

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

This is indie-bluegrass-folk-rock.  I've heard some of their stuff, but not much.  I'm kind of underwhelmed, frankly.  I mean, this is good stuff.  But I much prefer super-talented Dallas duo the O's.  These guys have heart.  But there's not enough muscle.  Favorite tracks: "Open Ended Life," "Morning Song," "Skin and Bones."