Edwin McCain developed a loyal following the day he stepped out on the stage back in 1991, supporting pals Hootie & the Blowfish on their debut tour and giving his Southern brethren a run for their ticket money. McCain has since developed a strong following for his own brand of unvarnished heartland rock. With his fourth album, the South Carolina native returns to the familiar landscape of Misguided Roses and Messenger, with his sublimely infectious melodies and anthemic choruses inhabiting the territory once claimed by the Doobie Brothers and Lee Michaels in the '70s. While first hailed as an acoustic balladeer, McCain and his band have expanded their parameters, ably careening from genre to genre with gusto. They are equally at home whipping up some thunder on a barn burner such as "Get Out of This Town" as they are getting sentimental with "Write Me a Song" and the graceful "Hearts Fall," both of which feature vocals by McCain pal Shawn Colvin. This latest offering is less polished than earlier works, perhaps due to the fact that it was coproduced by the band and Neil Young engineer Greg Archilla. But that roughhewn quality adds an emotional honesty and depth to the songs. --Jaan Uhelszki
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