It's been four long years since Nashville quartet Pinmonkey burst into the Top 25 with the thumping "Barbed Wire and Roses"—so long, in fact, that they've since been trimmed to a trio, having lost Dobro player Chad Jeffers to Keith Urban's band. On the other hand, they've found a new record label and a new drummer. None of these changes has affected the group's distinctive crisp harmonies, knack for melody and bracing country-rock sound, which are all safely in place on the group's third album, Big Shiny Cars. Pinmonkey's road has been bumpy, but it looks like smooth driving from here.

—Chris Neal