World Wide Open (Bonus Track Version)

Love and Theft have garnered many a Rascal Flatts comparison, but after listening to their arresting debut, any correlation with Rascal Flatts seems lazy. Likings to Little Big Town would be more apt because World Wide Open ripples with the warmth of old- school A.M. radio twang like the Eagles or Crosby, Stills & Nash mixed with impassioned and timeless lyrical sentiment reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. Band members Brian Bandas, Eric Gunderson, and Stephen Barker Liles all share singing and songwriting duties, so when the opening title track sinks its hooks into your heart like a first kiss, you’ll know right away that this is pure musical chemistry. Music City A-list guns like banjo player Kevin Haynie and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Coplan help flesh things out, but it’s also the subtleties that make a big difference like a tasteful cello on the insta-hit “Runaway.” The melancholic “Drowning” reveals a band that isn’t going to shove sunshine down your throat with every song. The rootsy “Leaning to Fall” boasts their best harmonies to date.