(self-released)

http://www.facebook.com/theblessings

It could be argued that the true genius of the Rolling Stones was creating a style of rootsy, sexy rock ‘n' roll that's utterly timeless. When it's done right, the Jagger/Richards method of Chuck Berry-based sleaze and soul satisfies in a way no other music does. Strangely, though, since the demise of the Faces and the decay of the Stones themselves, very few artists still practice this indelible art, and you can count the genuine greats amongst the current practitioners - Canada's Lions in the Street, Sweden's Diamond Dogs, England's Quireboys - on one hand.

Fortunately the Blessings vault themselves into that rarified stratum with Tomahawk Inn. The band's second LP finds it riding a familiar slinky groove, but with a combination of mastery and enthusiasm that makes it sound totally fresh. Guitarist Mike Gavigan's slide-fueled riffs and solos duet gracefully with harmonicat Jeremy White's ragged sneer, while bassist Jamie Zimlin and drummer Jason Upright shoot the rhythms straight to your hips. But successfully revivifying the classic sound is only half the battle - the other half is writing songs worthy of the challenge, and the band accomplishes that handily. Both breathless rockers ("Twisted Little Heart," "The Truth" "She Thinks She Loves Me") and midtempo groovers ("Yesterday's Tears," "So Hard to Be Your Friend") soar over the landscape in the band's hands. Like the Blessings' stylistic godfathers, the group is also smart enough to step away from the formula occasionally, as on the snaky blues of "Can't Shake the Devil," the garage pop of "Shufflin' Fool" and the aggressive country rock of "Leavin'."

In a nutshell, the wheel remains unaltered on Tomahawk Inn, but the Blessings master the Stones groove so completely and perform it so guilelessly that the album blows past derivative on its way to classic.

DOWNLOAD: "So Hard to Be Your Friend" "She Thinks She Loves Me," "Leavin'" MICHAEL TOLAND