“Sometimes I forget that it’s good enough,” declares Corey Baum with a lazy, scratchy croon in opening Croy & the Boys’ debut LP, capturing Austin’s still-surviving slacker vibe circa 2016. Produced by Adrian Quesada, Hey Come Back flows an easy country sway, honky-tonk born in the smoky haze of the White Horse more than the bottle tops of the Broken Spoke. Baum’s vox lay back like a late-night stretch of highway, “Back to Something” shuffling along contentedly with the passing scenery, and “Woke Up in Love” dipping low against Carson McHone’s harmonies. The title track pops a country soul burst, suggesting a Doug Sahm/Freddy Fender flair accented by the accordion chugging through tunes like “Oh Ellie.” Throughout, the quintet mops the dance floor with unexpected flourishes, cutting into waltzing and two-step rhythms on “It Ain’t a Life” and “Til Next Time,” while Baum’s nasal twang twinges tender on “Ruby Close It Down” and “You Still Care” before “Leaving’s the Last Thing” closes with a Tex-Mex send-off. Croy & the Boys make it sound easy, but the result is much better than just good enough.
This article appears in November 18 • 2016.
