Rancho Deluxe is in regular rotation on the jukebox at The Cinema Bar in Culver City, CA where they play a regular monthly gig. The originals sparkle on the disk just like they do in a live show. The songs vary in texture and tempo giving this collection a satisfying repeatability that blends with the best efforts of the bands influences: Buck, Dylan, Lefty, Hank, Haggard, etc. It's rock, it's twang, it's smart, it's fun, it's California, it's awesome!

However abstract the term “Country Rock” might be, its origins can surely be traced to the Southern California landscapes where Gram Parsons, The Byrds and the Eagles were insightful enough to fuse traditional country with a rock and roll attitude. And while the lines between all genres have now been blurred with newer categories like “Alt-Country” and “Americana,” there are still bands that are most fittingly labeled as Country Rock. Rancho Deluxe, made up of Mark Adams and brothers Jesse Jay Harris and Graham Harris, is such a band. On their self-titled debut, they seem determined to stake a claim on a piece of California's rich Country Rock heritage. What is immediately clear is that the emphasis here is on the Country. Following the pattern set by their California forefathers, the guys in Rancho Deluxe use traditional country music as their touchstone. They seem to realize what most of Nashville has forgotten: The best country music is authentic and genuine. It's also steeped in tradition. By utilizing traditional instruments such as the pedal steel guitar and banjo (provided by guests JayDee Maness and Greg Harris, both of whom actually played with Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers), it's clear that this is a band willing to embrace the Country part of Country Rock. Given such a powerful supporting cast, it would be easy for the three core members to fade into the background. However, that's not the case. Mark Adams particularly shines through, making his own distinct imprint. With his rich baritone voice, Adams elevates the record's strongest songs, and salvages a few of the weaker ones. Jesse Jay Harris not only contributes some tasty guitar and mandolin playing, but serves as the disc's producer as well. And while there are definite peaks and valleys concerning the album's material, his production always sounds great. Graham Harris rounds out the core line-up, and plays very solid bass lines throughout the album. The standout tracks here are “Steppin' Off the Line” and “I Bought a Bottle.” On the former, Adams sings of selling off his wicked ways to the highest bidder. What's purposefully vague is his motivation for doing so. Is he settling down for a new love, or is he just tired of spinning his wheels and coming up a loser? Ultimately it doesn't matter. The song aches in a beautiful country melancholy that is augmented by a fine fiddle solo by Megan Lynch. “I Bought a Bottle” is a clever song about forbidden love, where Adams sings of a unique way of remembering a woman. He tells her “I bought a bottle, it's not what you'd expect / I bought a bottle of what you wear around your neck.” Another successful song is “Rock Bottom,” a humorous honky-tonk rocker that would sound great while shooting pool and drinking a beer. It should also be noted that Rancho Deluxe pulls off a vibrant cover version of Dylan's “Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You,” proving that no matter what the genre, Dylan is a good choice for extra material. With their debut record, Rancho Deluxe proves that Country Rock is alive and well in the land of its birth. While the record isn't perfect, it is vastly superior to most of Nashville's Eagles imitators. In a world where the majority of so-called country music lacks soul and integrity, it is refreshing to hear some heart-felt tunes that go against the commercial grain. Rancho Deluxe is a step in the right direction for what will hopefully be a long and distinguished recording career.