One Town Away (Bonus Track Version)

Made up of three brothers and a pair of their friends, Sons of Bill play sincere and straightforward Southern roots rock with some genuine Virginia twang thrown in. Jangling Telecasters, organ, piano, and a bit of lap steel round out their sound and prove the right backdrop for the earnest tenor of James Wilson, with harmony vocals from his brothers Sam and Abe. They show some swagger on tunes like “Going Home,” “Rock and Roll,” and the clever and biting “Lost Love and Indie Rockers,” but they really make their mark with the strong ballads “Joey’s Arm,” “So Much for the Blues,” “Charleston,” and “Broken Bottles,” all of which highlight their storytelling skills and thoughtful lyrics (sample: “Hank Williams might have been a love-sick drinker, but being a love-sick drunk don’t make you Hank”). With One Town Away, just their second release, the tight and soulful Sons of Bill show some definite promise.