The Deslondes

The Deslonde's have a loose, easygoing feel that's a distant cousin of the lazy but potent beat of classic New Orleans R&B (and the piano work suggests someone has been listening to some Huey "Piano" Smith), while the production gives the performances a vibe that recalls a Sunday afternoon guitar pull on someone's back porch.

The guitar work from Sam Doores and Riley Downing meshes beautifully, with a lonesome purr that's sweet and soulful, and the pedal steel work by John James Tourville roots these songs in a traditional C&W feel without robbing this band of its low-key personality. Drummer Cameron Snyder and bassist Dan Cutler are a loosely tight rhythm section who might not sound like Louisiana, but they're clearly nowhere near Nashville. Add in the wobbly but heartfelt vocals and surprisingly strong harmonies and you get an engaging debut from a band that hits a graceful midpoint between The Basement Tapes and the Gourds, not to mention delivering one of 2015's more pleasant surprises. - Mark Deming, AllMusic.