Remember how Tom Petty’s seminal ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ album instantly grabbed you with its classic rock salvo, “Refugee”? Well, it’s no exaggeration to compare that with Edgehill Avenue’s CD-opener (& title-track), “Rambler”, an Hammond organ-rich, Neil Young-meets-Bottle Rockets gem that serves as an excellent introduction to a disc of riveting roots rock of the 1st order. Hailing from Louisville, KY, the 5-member Edgehill Avenue are much at home with Allman Brothers-style Southern Rock (“Don’t Come Around Here Anymore”, “How You Really Feel”), but also display a more-than-able touch with country-rock balladry (“I’ll Be Leaving Now”, “Out of Time”). Elsewhere, “With These Hands” is reminiscent of R.E.M.’s “Driver 8”, & “Just Don’t Care Anymore”, with its honky tonk piano backing, feels like Blue Rodeo at their rocking best. Regardless of style, though, ‘Rambler’ is nothing less than a seamless & compelling mix of well-crafted & equally well-played (think Petty’s Heartbreakers or the E Street Band ensembles as models) Americana-inspired classic rock.