Partisan

Middle Brother is a “supergroup” featuring Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), John McCauley (Deer Tick) and Mathew Vasquez (Delta Spirit). Each musician brings his songs to the group and the three alt-folk troubadours harmonize like a modern day CSN – only with a rock band-edge. Each member’s solo spots aim for the elusive “Y” to this configuration – or at least the Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons, as the title track ascertains. The constant mix and match of songwriters makes for a 50-minute,12-track album that has enough variety to fit in a cover of The Replacements obscurity “Portland” alongside tunes that vary from midnight weepers at the not-so-O.K. Corral to upbeat whiskey-fused rodeo tunes and jukejoint rave-ups that never lack energy. Quite exciting, really.