Folks Like Us

Four years removed from 2011's Rebels on the Run and still on an indie label, Montgomery Gentry doesn't evidence much desire to change on 2015's Folks Like Us. Some slight changes are evident here and there — "Headlights" echoes a bit of the quick-tongue patter of bro-country, while "Hillbilly Hippies" has a heavy four-on-the-floor beat that could be characterized as disco if the surroundings weren't so defiantly redneck — but Montgomery Gentry are comfortable where they are, alternating rocking country with strong sentiment. Often, the softer side resonates just a bit more than the big-boned swagger — "Better for It" pulls at the heart strings, while "Pain" comes close to being a crossover ballad — but the duo still does put gusto into the bluster, so it's satisfying. Nevertheless, when Montgomery Gentry strikes a delicate balance between the two extremes, such as on the bluesy crawl "Back on a Dirt Road" with Steve Robinson, that's when they flourish.