Still Here

The Mocking Birds' Still Here is an unassuming collection of contemporary roots rock — undoubtedly holding true to the genre's tropes, but also happily (or, at least, bemusedly) embracing topicality. A nicely blended Casio keyboard mixes with panned news samples on the novelty country number "Gas Masks and Vaccines" and suggests that the band might have success if they ever decide to think of things like the Casio as something more than novelties. Either way, the music on Still Here is solid, with solid numbers like "Honey Blonde" and "Melancholy Blue" capturing the band at their catchiest. Occasionally, singer/songwriter James Velvet seems to have a bit of a problem with syllables, not quite having enough to fill out the songs (such as on "Gas Masks and Vaccines" and "I Like the Music"). In general, he manages to evoke standard roots rock imagery without sailing too far into cliché.