Album Review By Rory Carroll (Reuters)

The Cosmic Cowboys “Songs for Road Trippin’” takes listeners on a grand sonic quest full of unpredictable turns.

The thrilling odyssey that is Cosmic Cowboys’ ambitious album “Songs for Road Trippin” begins with you behind the wheel as you roll the AM dial of a vintage car radio aimlessly through static and stations, unsure where you’ll end up.

It’s good preparation for what’s to come on an album that veers from 120 Minutes-era 90s alternative rock to a series of country-infused acoustic campfire singalongs that all work together thanks to uniting vision of chief Cowboy, Riley Hodges.

After landing on a DJ who introduces the Long Beach-based outfit, the band awakes on opener “Road Trippin’ (Radio intro)” and soon finds its direction with a driving beat and soaring harmonies.

With its catchy riff and washed out vocals, “Sail the Night” is an early album highlight. The guitars on “We Are Loud” strut like they were played by a whiskey-soaked Keith Richards and nicely sets up the epic “Feed My Eyes.”

From there, things take a surprising but welcome turn to a series of warm acoustic songs introduced by the lovely instrumental “California Streamin.”

A duet that begins with, of all things, whistling is a highlight of the section.

The sudden change of pace puts a lot of pressure on Hodges to stick the landing and he does just that, marrying the album’s early grit and attitude and its earnest, big-hearted second half on the satisfying closer “Oh, Luna.”

A remarkable album by a band eager to keep exploring. Don’t touch that dial.