It"s a sad state of affairs when the fact that a rock & roll album recorded live, with minimal overdubs, is considered worth highlighting, but it s notable that the new full-length from Thomas Wynn & the Believers was recorded as live as possible. Had Wynn reshaped his band one of the most incandescent beacons of rock & roll classicism in Orlando into some Pro Tools-contorted beast, the resulting work would ve been not only a disservice to the transcendent nature of their live performances, it would ve also been profoundly disappointing and dishonest. Yet, thanks to a simple and straightforward approach to the recording process, Brothers and Sisters is full of buzzing, open-chord goodness, crackling harmonies and visceral energy to spare. What Wynn and the Believers deliver is a sly bit of surprise. Their workmanlike ethos and general ubiquity seldom a week goes by without a gig of some sort has likely lulled local scene-watchers into thinking they know exactly what the deal is here: classic rock delivered with roof-raising spirit and a crowd-friendly smile. But there are also subtle variations on the 40-year-old form, tweaks that are much more recognizable on record than on stage. For instance, the title track unfolds gradually and gracefully into a CCR-quoting number that seems like an awfully unoriginal way to begin a record. However, Brothers and Sisters reveals itself as much more complex, using a Fogerty riff as little more than a launchpad for a soulful, cathartic and completely original rocker. It"s that soulfulness that continues to set Wynn s band apart from many road-dogging young classic-rock acts. Live, it s the grit in Wynn s voice, the generosity of his spirit and the band s visible camaraderie that helps to elevate the Believers music beyond mundane recitations of worn-out 60s rock tropes. On the album, thanks to the live-to-tape ethos of the sessions, all of that comes across beautifully. --Jason Ferguson/Orlando Weekly Southern Rock Muscle - TW&TB personifies rugged, yet uplifting spirited rock, sprinkled with southern soul R&B. Tunes brutally honest & heartfelt, the themes go beyond years of drugs, heartbreaks & hypocrisy to deliver a message of hope. For once, you have a Florida band that is truly Florida, with a touch of Molly Hatchett, The Band, Neil Young, and The Black Crowes.