Duchess of York, "Era in Static"

You just can't put a price tag on talent. Nor, it seems, an accurate age. Suffice to say that Duchess of York, formerly The Rising Sons, plays beyond its years and gets better with every performance. And like Kings of Leon or, let's see, the Jackson 5, the tightness of the band may be in the blood. The Yorks' blood, that is: singer/guitarist Michael, bassist/brother Austin, guitarist/brother Beck. Along with drummer Constantine Giavos, they've been tight since practically the womb, one would imagine, and all share a vision for the purest, loudest kind of rock.

That vision is given ample opportunity on "Era in Static," the group's first full-length, with jangly guitars, long, sweeping solos, and unexpected twists and turns that defy its high-school origins. Also heard are all the elements of the ancestors, bands like The White Stripes, Zeppelin and, ah, the long and venerable list on their MySpace page. How they'll distinguish themselves against those noble forebears will be the true (and most interesting) challenge for Duchess of York. For now, their boundaries are defined by the underwear-thrower "Animal City," which is straightforward and great loud, and the sublime "Shine," which throws off a lovely, mellow light. It's carried by Michael's voice, which continues to shape the sound as the edge is worn off his teenage rasp. Somewhere down the road, they'll be prepared to consider the deepest blues from which the bands of that MySpace list first emerged. — Brandon Reynolds