Kind

With that hard-won richness to his vocals, it was perhaps inevitable that Kelly Jones would try guiding Stereophonics toward countrified plains. Don’t panic: This isn’t some calculated, Stetson-donning lurch for the Nashville dollar; it’s far more becoming. This is the Welsh rockers at their heartiest, and the country tinges suit these sincere, earnestly affecting songs. “Street of Orange Light” might be their most gorgeous music since 1997’s “Traffic,” the stately “Make Friends With the Morning” takes it to church, while “Bust This Town” proves that 11 albums in, there’s still the passion to send people hurtling toward the indie dance floor.

Even the most casual listener can recognise Stereophonics’ most iconic tracks and it would be easy to think that if you aren’t a fan by now, it’s simply too late. Their latest effort, Kind, suggests this doesn’t have to be the case.

Woven into the fabric of popular music, Welsh rockers Stereophonics proved long ago that they have what it takes to come up with the song material again