The second release for Country Fried shows off the band’s live strength, but it also exposes its live weaknesses. Tom Stern’s sympathetic production lets the acoustic country/folk songs shine, with just enough instrumental support to give the vocal-oriented songs adequate support. Unfortunately, the voices aren’t ready for the spotlight. Some singers sound like they’re affecting a Randy Travis-like round tone in the lower range, and when that’s not a problem, they’re simply thin and unsteady.

Periodically, the band makes good use of the campfire feel. In “Lawrence and Mina,” the spirited performance and the simple fun of singing together takes over. That’s Country Fried at its best and helped the band find its audience. On the other hand, “My Bartender” is so consciously written in country’s beer-drinking idiom that it sounds faux, an impression the feigned baritone only exaggerates.

I admire a band with the nerve to make group vocals its calling card, but it would be a good idea to work on those voices so the band doesn’t need drinking listeners to overlook the shortcomings.