The Loudermilks (You Know What, 2014)

Named after a pair of brothers legendary for their sweet harmonizing - the Louvin Brothers - the Loudermilks are led by a pair of brothers well-known (at least down Carolina way and in alt.-country circles) for their, surprise, sweet harmonizing. Charlotte-by-way-of-Cartersville, Ga.'s Alan and Chad Edwards, along with bassist Shawn Lynch, previously did business as Lou Ford, which put out two well-regarded albums around the turn of the century before regrouping briefly for a final album in 2007. They are joined here by former Jolene drummer Mike Kenerley and keyboardist Jason Atkins.

There isn't a major change in sound from Lou Ford; those aforementioned heavenly harmonies are still at the forefront, and evocative, exceptional songwriting is still a strong suit. The loud guitars haven't gone anywhere - thankfully. "The one thing that I know is that I got to do what's right for me," Alan Edwards sings on "Broken Record," a soulful, mid-tempo standout with lots of great "ohhhhh's." He also offers "Quite honestly I'd have given up on me long before now," on "Quite Honestly," a saucy confessional delivered with a lot of - uh, honesty - and a warning to acquaintances of Alan Edwards to beware of any sentences he begins with "quite honestly."

Your nose fills up with the smell of red clay amid the longing on the album-ending "Georgia Pines," while the wonderfully realized "Jim Dugan" is propelled by Joe Smith's pedal steel. The radio-ready "Come Along With Me" mixes power pop and rockabilly to maximum levels of infectiousness. A much welcome start and return from the Edwards brothers and the Loudermilks on this 10-song stunner.