Secret weapon.

The Bodeans are an amazingly consistent band. Over the last twenty plus years their albums and concert performances have been noteworthy for their tight harmonies, sparkling guitar-work and positive, uplifting songs. Only two of those albums, however, brought them acclaim and commercial success; their debut, “Love and Hope and Sex and Dreams” and 1993’s “Go Slow Down.” It’s probably no small coincidence that T-Bone Burnett produced both of them. For their eighth studio album, “Still”, the uber-producer is back behind the board and they’ve come up the best album since their last collaboration.  

There aren’t many bands that have drawn comparisons with The Everly Brothers, The Eagles and U-2 all at the same time, but The Bodeans’ roots-rock approach continues to defy categorizations by straddling the line between twang and arena-rock. Their penchant for writing songs about seemingly mundane subjects that can be interpreted as commentary on a more social scale continues with “Round Here Somewhere”, a song about lost items that could also be referring to their own artistic appeal.  Sammy Llanas’ low budget Bono voice and shimmering Edge-like guitars crank up for the anthemic “Everyday” and “Lucille” is joyous and lusty fifties throwback.  Clumsy lyrical reaches are kept to a minimum and each song has a timeless quality to it.

Burnett’s production keeps an airy-ness to the instrumental lineup with a fierce rhythm section backed with acoustic guitars, organ and that ever-present ringing electric guitar. Whatever chemistry that has been lacking in some of their recent efforts, Burnett seems able to provide.  His recent success with albums by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss and the “Walk the Line” soundtrack, coupled with “Still” prove the man has the Midas touch.  

Listen for songs from The Bodeans album “Still” all this week on Paul Shugrue’s new music show “Out of the Box” on Hampton Roads public radio 89.5 WHRV Monday through Thursday from 7pm until 9pm, Saturday afternoon from 1pm to 5pm and on-demand at www.whrv.org/outofthebox.