(Sci Fidelity Records)

www.scifidelity.com

Keller Williams is not exactly the most predictable musician out there. The fact that he can mix bluegrass, folk, alt rock and even a little funk already puts him in his own self-created genre. So why expect his first covers album to be any more predictable? There tends to be a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" element to performing someone else's music. You can go with the safe songs, sticking to artists in your own genre and come off sounding like little more than a local tribute band or you can go out on a limb and try to offer a new take on a song is the antithesis of your band and come of sounding like a novelty (example: just about every lame nu-metal band taking on pop hits from the ‘80s).  

Considering Williams manages to take both of the aforementioned approaches and come off with a solid record is that much more impressive. Backed by husband and wife musicians Larry and Jenny Keel, the band is actually at its best tackling alt rock college radio anthems like Marcy Playground's "Sex and Candy" and Cracker's "Teen Angst". They've even managed to breathe life into the otherwise limp "Bath of Fire" by one-hit wonders The Presidents of the United States of America.   

The album drags slightly when the band takes on The Grateful Dead's "Mountains of the Moon" and fellow hippies Yonder Mountain String Band ("Winds on Fire), but on the whole a great effort that's bound to bring in a few more fans.

Standout Tracks: "Sex and Candy," "Teen Angst" JOHN B. MOORE