Warner Brothers Records

These are difficult days. Jobs are scarce and the future is unclear at best. We need music more than ever to help relieve our tension, and when Russell Pollard sings “Let Go,” the first song on Everest’s sophomore album, you can feel the release. Touring with Neil Young has clearly honed Everest’s skills – the guitars are big, the changes are dramatic and the vocals are a perfect blend of raw power and delicate nuance. But what makes On Approach such a compelling album is the strength of the material. This is a band defining its sound, mixing triumphant rockers ( “I’ve Had This Feeling Before” ) with teeth-bearing guitar workouts ( “House of 9’s” ) and beautiful acoustic ballads ( “Tall Buildings” ). Everything about these songs feels like future classics, emotionally saturated rock and roll that stands up against the best from the golden ‘70s.