No bluffing here, just talent

The music industry is oh so fickle. Somehow green bands with lackluster skills and experience pick up record deals on a daily basis, while seasoned ones with some talent remain unnoticed by artists and repertoire people across the country. Virginia’s My Favorite Highway happens to be of those bands seemingly glossed over by the record-label folk, but that didn’t stop them from putting out a solid EP – 2006’s Anywhere But Here – and their brand new album, How To Call A Bluff.

On How To Call A Bluff, My Favorite Highway have seasoned and matured their piano pop/rock sound, but just enough that the tracks here feature a more solidified sheen. The musicianship has improved from their previous work, but the band’s strength stems from vocalist David Cook’s wonderfully crafted lyrics and unique vocal delivery. A name is about the only thing he shares with the “American Idol” winning guy with the same name.

Each track on the album includes a hefty portion of twinkle and shine, even when the lyrics might not completely match. And although some of the lyrics sometimes seem a bit too heavy handed, it’s quickly forgotten once the hooks kick in. “Bigger Than Love” is one of said tracks, featuring lyrics like “If there’s a hole in your heart you gotta pull it together/ It takes the courage to start but now it’s better than ever” that make you laugh and smile at the very same time.

Although most of the tracks follow the same sonic pattern, My Favorite Highway successfully switches it up every now and then “Say So” sees the band rock a little bit more than usual, with crunching, pop-punk-like guitar work and an increased pace all around. They channel OneRepublic on “Walking On A Wire,” with arena-ready production and a soaring chorus. And Cook delivers a wide-ranging vocal performance on the album’s beautiful closer “Steel City.”

My Favorite Highway’s knack for unspooling glimmering pop/rock ditties is fairly flawless on How To Call A Bluff. One would hope it’d be enough to get some record-label attention, but the band seems to be doing more than fine on their own.