The Waylons

New York's The Waylons' self-titled full-length debut is a solid rock/pop album with country charm. While not as sugary as some Tullycraft or early Of Montreal, The Waylons do play Splenda hooks and have playful sing-alongs a plenty. One of the real successes of this album is the production, which gives these seemingly effortlessly crafted songs extra character. The guitars are up front with a cabinet sound, and, as a result, The Waylons sound more like a real band than a pop machine...This full-length debut is, overall, an accessible and very enjoyable listen. Despite the band's claim it is "not a country band," there are some young cowboys in there somewhere. It's a shame they don’t indulge themselves more, because their countrified moments are some of their best. Examples include the sadly devoted "Day for Night" and the at-ends ballad "Take Me Out." A charming country-tinge appears even in tracks with chord structures much removed from the oft-vilified genre, as in two of the best tracks, the love-sick "Twenty-six" and the near-perfect "Stunning"... - Delusions of Adequacy