Come Back as Rain

From the opening acoustic guitars and finely tuned harmonies of "Over and Over", Bucks County, Pa.-based Good Old War reminds listeners that well-executed folk-rock/alt-country can still inspire great songs. The band's third album, 2012's <i>Come Back as Rain</i>, further refines its delicate formula, casting the group as a Crosby, Stills & Nash for a new generation. While the songs are rooted in rustic instrumentation, the melodies caress the contours of vintage pop. "Calling Me Names" hints at The Beach Boys in its looming harmonies, while "Better Weather" evokes the summer breezes of the Boys and Hawaii's Jack Johnson. The band isn't all sun and fun, though. "Present for the End of the World", "Not Quite Happiness", and "It Hurts Every Time" show gray clouds forming, yet with an Americana-pop approach that hasn't been as successfully mined since the days of The BoDeans. The songs are campfire-ready, though it might be a challenge for aspiring singers to nail the harmonies: proof that these young men are old pros.