You’ll be pleased we’ve fixed our downloading issues when you get to hear this cracker from The Futurebirds. As with the previously posted Johnny Utah, it is from the forthcoming album Hampton’s Lullaby, but this time we get glorious, up-tempo alt-country gem Battle For Rome.

It doffs its cap to good ol’ boy Southern Rock, and has a vocal that calls to mind vintage Neil Young without ever being derivative, but it is the driving percussion, swelling chorus, and slow building guitars, all leading to a dramatic coda, that melds it into a truly standout track.

Hampton’s Lullaby is quickly rising to the top of our ‘most anticipated” list of new releases.

The album will be out on Autumn Tone Records in July.

Visit their MySpace here. Don’t forget you can pick up their free EP via bandcamp here.

Download The Futurebirds – Battle For Rome mp3 (from Hampton’s Lullaby)

Download The Futurebirds – Johnny Utah mp3 (from Hampton’s Lullaby)