Hell or High Water

Louisiana Christian alternative rockers As Cities Burn called it quits in 2006, ending a brief but successful one-album career. Not long after the announcement, guitarist Cody Bonnette revealed that he would step into the frontman position left vacant by his brother T.J., whose departure was the apparent reason for the split, and keep the ACB machine going after all (following an outpouring of fan support). In 2009, the four-piece released its third album, the viscoelastic Hell or High Water. Bonnette and his genre-smashing bandmates carve out a groovy round of alt rock that is tinted a couple different shades of pop. Squalling guitars and moody vocals power such tracks as "'84 Sheep Dog," and "Gates," which bookend the disc and are two of Hell or High Water's stand-out compositions. Tracks like the ambling "Made Too Pretty" and the musically schizophrenic "Pirate Blues," tread Pearl Jam territory (in the group's most experimental moments, at least). Bonnette's voice quivers on the latter like he's been taking vocal lessons from Counting Crows' frontman, Adam Duritz. Hell or High Water is a bit uneven in places, but the Tooth and Nail crowd will eat the disc up like it's penny candy, and they better: As Cities Burn once again called it quits shortly after the album's release.