Oh my. The Sumner Brothers are back and ready to release I’ll Be There. Obviously, the Vancouver band is one we’ve loved and supported for a long time, including getting the boys to record a cover of “Cotton Jenny” for our Gordon Lightfoot tribute, but this new record is something special.

The Sumner Brothers have always been fantastic story tellers, able to captivate a crowd with the most minimal, slow picked song, but even after a few casual listens, it’s obvious I’ll Be There is more muscular and diverse than previous efforts.

From the opening moments of “I’m The Toughest Guy In The Prison Camp”, the band shifts and moves constantly. A gussied up “Going Out West”, a Townes cover that doesn’t just make me pine for the original, the backing vocals on “When You Dig My Grave” and the restraint and gentle touch of “Outside Looking In” are just a few of the highlights on this record.

I’ll have a more focused review in time, but The Sumners asked us to help get the word, and we happily obliged. Stream the record below, or make with the clicky-clicky to join the mailing list and get a free download.