Behind Beyond (Deluxe Version)

For more than 20 years, The Mother Hips have mixed melodic country rock, power pop, and jam-band sensibilities into a sound they call California soul. The band has endured a few lineup changes over the years, but the core players have remained the same, evolving into a tight roots-rock outfit with a loyal army of fans. Behind Beyond, the band's eighth release, won't disappoint them. The feel is looser than on The Mother Hips' previous album, 2009’s Pacific Dust, yet it feels like a natural progression. The variety of songs is impressive; tough riffs, odd tempos and chord changes, psychedelic guitar duels, clear and easy harmonies, and laid-back grooves fill these well-crafted tunes. “Jefferson Army”—a fascinating tale about a campaign by Northern Californians to secede from the rest of the state—is the best example here of The Mother Hips' narrative lyrical style. But whether midtempo and mellow or bluesy and biting, each of these 10 tracks has its moments. Behind Beyond is another strong release by a consistently solid band.