Over the past few years, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors have gradually assumed the role of populist troubadours, a fan-friendly ensemble that cultivates good vibes and a catalog of unimposing tunes well suited for their accompaniment. With their decidedly agreeable new album Dragons they further that stance, offering a set of songs that mostly plough a fertile middle ground that’s neither too harsh nor too staid for soaking up mainstream acceptance. With an all-star list of collaborators and accompanists (The Lone Bellow, Lori McKenna, wife Ellie Holcomb et.al.), Holcomb and crew have taken one more step towards achieving the untarnished engagement they’ve clearly been seeking since the beginning.
It’s not that they haven’t taken this tack before. In fact, their every effort to date has come across like a personal postcard sent from various points along a journey through the soul. Indeed, Holcomb’s never been reticent about sharing his emotions, and, when needed, offering solace and encouragement to others. On Dragons, he and the band start the set with a decidedly boisterous beginning, thanks to the one-two punch bestowed by the stomp and sizzle of “Family” and the celebratory stance of “End of the World,” two songs that suggest it’s time to cast away the blues and gear up to get happy.
Granted, the other offerings in the set don’t necessarily meet a similar level of verve and vitality, but the easy amble of “But I’ll Never Forget theWay You Make Me Feel,” “See the World,” “You Want What You Can’t Have” and the aptly-titled “Make It Look So Easy” possess a luster all their own, a soft rock sound that seems aimed at achieving primary pop perfection. These are songs infused with both assurance and affirmation, a feel-good sensibility that belies the darker clouds that often seem to loom over every horizon. The anthemic “You Never Leave My Heart” provides a perfect crescendo, summing up the faith and fulfillment infused in this effort overall.
Ultimately, Dragons is nowhere near the imposing proposition that the title might suggest. Upbeat and infectious, Holcomb tames those beasts with ease and efficiency.
