Why aren’t Grand Drive hailed as alt.country heroes? Perhaps it’s down to prejudice: that, because they’re from south London rather than southern Texas, somehow they’re not authentic. On the fourth release from the prolific Wilson brothers, the potent songwriting and fine harmonies remain little changed. But what kicks the album into the grown-up league is the atmospheric production of Malcolm Burn, who produced the last two Emmylou Harris albums. He gives their gentler side a mysterious, shimmering quality and adds a previously missing garage-like conviction to their attempts to rock out. By some way, their best yet.
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