One Flew South is almost disarmingly old-fashioned: not old-timey, or even a throwback to classic country, but rather a revival of the harmony-heavy, mellow country-rock of the '70s. All through their 2008 debut,
Last of the Good Guys, the trio of Royal Reed, Chris Roberts, and Eddie Bush harmonize like the sons of
Crosby, Stills & Nash,
Poco, and
the Eagles, so it shouldn't come as a great surprise that this sound caught the ear of
J.D. Souther, running mate and songwriter for
the Eagles.
Souther co-wrote several songs on
Last of the Good Guys, helping to give the album an authentic, laid-back '70s vibe, but the trio is sharp enough to draft in Marcus Hummon -- a writer behind hits for
Rascal Flatts and the
Dixie Chicks -- to give this a modern pop flair. Indeed, the two songwriters even collaborate on "It Is Good," a tune that perhaps favors
Souther's sensibility, yet the entire album does achieve a delicate balance between his warm, relaxed, soulful, soft rock and Hummon's gift for contemporary adult pop, but too much credit shouldn't be placed at these writers feet, as
One Flew South are very much their own band; they're just working with a kindred spirit. Their harmonies are easygoing and plentiful. Eddie Bush co-writes half of the album's 12 tracks and plays some gorgeous guitar; Chris Roberts has five writing credits; while Royal Reed (who has three credits) is an appealing, everyman frontman, all things that give them their own identity as a group. And the most appealing thing about
Last of the Good Guys is that it is a record where the sum is greater than the individual parts; it's subtle, well-crafted music that comes on smooth yet lingers after it's finished playing. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine