Windward

The term "roots rock" has been used quite loosely over the years — as just about every band that has a hint of acoustic guitar in its sound seems to fall under the aforementioned stylistic umbrella. But the duo of brothers Char and Robbie Rothschild — better known as Round Mountain — is the real deal when it comes to roots rock, especially as evidenced by the pair's third release overall, 2009's Windward. Despite the band being solely comprised of the two brothers, an extraordinary array of exotic and uncommon instruments is utilized — Irish whistle, gaida, saz, cajon, bouzouki, kora, etc. But it all fits together nicely (as it sounds more "folk music" than "world music"), with Round Mountain's music sounding consistently mellow and laid-back, as evidenced by such tracks as "Don't Lie Down," "In Us All," and "I'm Gone." For roots rock that is entirely free of such expected influences as Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones (three artists who go hand in hand with the genre), Round Mountain have hit upon a special formula with Windward.