The new, self-titled disc from Austin’s Porterdavis is a Country-Blues gem. With stomping rhythms, a menacing harmonica weaving it’s way through the melodies, and the dark, smokey and soulful vocals of Dan Barrett, much of the disc seems to be rooted in the mud of Mississippi rather than dusty soil of Texas. If another band from Austin, Band of Heathens, had decided to put a rougher edge on an entire album of songs like “Jackson Station” and “Cornbread”, they would likely dream up an album similar to Porterdavis.

The album, produced by Texas guru Gurf Morlix, was recorded with his live and loose touch in the studio and the band’s tight interplay shines throughout. Feeding off of each other and forgoing pro-tools, there is an organic vibe that suits their simple and rustic style extremely well.

Songs like “Smack Your Back” and “Take the Fall” offer muscular, almost aggressive examples while “Strange Way to Grieve” lightens things up considerably when the group seems to channel their inner Jack Johnson with their breezy, summery guitar strums. As the title of the song suggests, the lyrics throw anyone looking for a happy-go-lucky sing along off the trail as the harmonica again takes center stage and bellows subtly while still providing a commanding presence. With “Carter’s Tune”, we have another Texan, Eliza Gilkyson, lending her soft vocals to what is likely the album’s softest song, along with “Grass Growing Through Concrete”.  In “Carter’s Tune”, as with so many of the other numbers on the album, it is again the harmonica of Simon Wallace that leads the song by threading the vocals together with the rhythm and creating a seamless tapestry of roots, blues and folk. This melding of styles really gives the entire disc it’s winning personality.

Listen to tracks from the Porterdavis’ new album, Porterdavis on their Myspace page.