What do you call an album that layers Americana with blues, elements of pop and good old-fashioned rock and roll; one on which the band puts as much emphasis on lyrical excellence and vocal harmonies as it does on the music and sustains it beautifully for thirteen tracks? Well, you call it "Young Blood Rising", the sophomore effort from Tulsa group The del Toros. Proving once again that Tulsa has one of the most vibrant and exciting music scenes in the country, The del Toros have crafted an album that is familiar and friendly without falling back on genre cliches; radio-ready without pandering to anyone and proving that there is much, much more to this kind of music than mopey acoustic meanderings and soggy, half-baked stabs at "indie rock". Songs such as "Billboard Jesus" and "Wicker Park" crackle with electricity and the slower tunes, like the gorgeous "Again" truly benefit from the crystal-clear production techniques employed throughout every track. Lyrically, no new ground is broken but the songs are well written and relatable; tales of love and loss, heartbreak and redemption; there are, though, several tracks that stand out, including the opening track, "Kick Drum Blues" and the previously mentioned "Again", as well as "Talk of the Town". I love this track because it shuffles along nicely while using words like a switchblade, totally eviscerating the song's subject. -Egg Radio