The debut album from English Americophiles
Ben Earle
and
Crissie Rhodes
,
Brave
offers up a Thames-based take on American country-pop. The duo's roll call of influences includes
Dolly Parton
Kacey Musgraves
Faith Hill
, and
Alison Krauss
, so it should come as no surprise that the
Shires
lean more toward the
Lady Antebellum
side of the U.K. country spectrum -- outside of the folksy "Made in England," one would be hard pressed to believe that
Earle
Rhodes
were from the counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, respectively, and not somewhere outside of Nashville. Sleek, sweet, and radio-ready, standout cuts like "Tonight," "Nashville Grey Skies," and the soulful title track would fit in nicely on a playlist stocked with
Taylor Swift
Little Big Town
Florida County Line
. ~ James Christopher Monger