Revolutions
As you sit and struggle with how to define this ear-catching Stillwater, Oklahoma, quartet, you might notice your foot tapping involuntarily. The insufferably catchy Great Divide offer an unlikely blend of unadorned heartland rock, hook-laden contemporary country, and dusty Americana that will somehow appeal to fans of all three styles. It works for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the production charms of Lloyd Maines, who has worked withJerry Jeff Walker,Joe Ely,Robert Earl Keen, andJames McMurtryamong others and thus knows a thing or two about countrified roots-rock. Maines is also responsible for the perfectly placed accents on pedal steel, banjo, Dobro, mandolin, and whatever else he could grab. Yet the Great Divide's most important asset is their honesty and their unaffectedness in both writing and delivering these simple songs, even though a certain amount of hollow frat-boy profundity does creep in at times--"College Days" might be the only song to reference ramen noodles! Still, theirSteve Earle-without-the-depth-or-demons sound comes off as true to itself, which already puts them ahead of most contemporary country acts.--Marc Greilsamer