Young for a Long Time

Personnel: Porter Howell (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo); Dwayne O'Brien (vocals, acoustic guitar); Dane Bryant (strings); Duane Propes (piano); Anthony Martin (keyboards); Del Gray (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: Mike Purcell.
Recording information: County Q, Nashville, TN; Porter's Basement, Nashville, TN.
Photographers: Duane Propes; Lyn Stevens .
Little Texas didn't rush their reunion, taking their time to deliver 2007's Missing Years and then waiting eight years to release its sequel, Young for a Long Time. This unhurriedness is evident in the sound of Young for a Long Time, which is quietly confident in its adherence to the band's old-fashioned values of melody and modulated country-rock. Although the sound is sometimes a shade too bright and punchy, it also emphasizes the group's inherent good cheer. At times, Porter Howell seems slightly too amiable for his own good -- his politeness undercuts the boasts of "Rednecks Do Exist," yet that's preferable to the ham-fisted nod to bro-country "Yeah Yeah Yeah" -- but that niceness is ingratiating, particularly on the ballads and midtempo melodic numbers that would seem to be tailor-made for the radio if radio was still playing this kind of country-pop in 2015. So, it's something for the fans, the ones that have stuck with Little Texas through the years and through the lineup changes, but they'll find it satisfying. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine