Half Dozen

Something of a modern rock version of their idols the Everly Brothers — whom they resurrected on NBC's American Dream — the ultra-harmonic sibling duo found their way through the dominant hip-hop on the charts with "Crazy for This Girl," one of 2001's most played singles. Aware of the corporate red tape and consolidations, they have given up on the major labels for now (their previous releases were on Island and Columbia) and are taking control of their marketing, offering this smart collection of six catchy new songs and three bonus tracks from previous records for an introductory price of $5.98 ($9.99 after 90 days). It's strong, well-played material at any price, from the bouncy and rollicking "Standing in the Middle" to the tongue-in-cheek, sweet harmony-driven blues-rocker "What She Likes" — whose harmonica passages bring to mind Alanis Morissette. There's a definite distinction in the production between these tunes and the more sparsely arranged older material, but all reflect thoughtful songwriters having something meaningful to say with guitars, drums, great lyrics, and lush harmonies. Brotherly love is a beautiful thing with these guys.