The duo of singer-songwriter Andy Platts and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee, as Young Gun Silver Fox they've been at it for well over a decade now, and this 5th album has their yacht-rock ways not lacking any sunny or breezy moments.

 

 

“Stevie & Sly” opens and wastes no time making an impression thanks to the funky mood, bouncy bass lines and Platts' smooth pipes that tip their hat to the '70s. “Born To Dream” then showcases Platts' falsetto alongside the crisp drumming and melodic soft-rock, though it's the elegant grooves and mature keys that make “Late Night Last Train” the best track on side A.

 

 

Rounding out the first half is “Burning Daylight” and “Holding Back The Fire”. The former is a soulful moment that also embraces retro-pop, and the latter allows for Platts' incredible range to soar amid the frisky and harmonic, nostalgic flavor.

 

 

The second half leads with the dense drums and rhythmic “Just For Pleasure”, and “Put Up Your Dukes” follows with an infectious energy that seems like it should soundtrack the dance floor in a much earlier decade.

 

 

Near to the end, the intimate, piano fueled “The Greatest Loser” finds itself in sing-along territory, but it's the West Coast sensibilities and R&B spirited “Stealing Time” that makes the back half worth a spin. “One Horse Race” then exits the listen with a dreamy ambience of warmth.

 

 

The pair cite influences like James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and Steely Dan, and their music certainly draws parallels to the Doobie Brothers or Earth, Wind & Fire. This is the first album where the pair were in each other's company (previous albums involved emailing files back and forth), and that effort makes for an extremely well crafted and memorable listen in the area of soft-rock.