America are best known for their hippie style ramblings like “Ventura Highway” and “Horse with No Name” but now they are back with a new CD, released on July 26^th that features the band paying homage to some of their favorite songwriters.

What is most interesting is the span of artists America has chosen to select for this project. Some are no brainers such as Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield, Simon and Garfunkel and the Beach Boys. Others are a bit of a surprise like Jimmy Webb and Mark Knopfler while newer artists, including Fountains of Wayne, New Radicals and Gin Blossoms show the band is paying attention to the musical world around them today.

The album has some amazing moments as America’s leaders, Gerry Becklly and Dewey Bunnell, place their own stamp on these classic tunes. The best of the bunch is the song “America” by Paul Simon. Gerry and Dewey capture the magic of this one and do the song justice. “Woodstock” is interesting as the band reinterprets the melody, mixing the original, the CSNY version and their own together to create new soundscapes.

For the most part, the formula works but it is not overwhelming by any means. It is a unique blend of songs that are usually not seen on tribute albums. Most of the tunes come off well there is a few let downs, namely the Zombies “Time of the Season.” America fail to get the same feeling that the Zombies do. Perhaps this is just too iconic of a song to mess with.

America have released a nice, easy listening album. Becklly and Bunnell can lay down at night knowing they did well but most America fans would rather have a new album of tunes.