River City Rebels sprung up in White River Junction, Vermont in the late ’90s, and were known during their formative years for their mix of street punk and brass instrumentation. However, over the past decade-plus, their sound has been transforming, incorporating more folk and country. By the time their 2007 LP Keepsake of Luck was released, the Rebels had matured and settled into their own unique identity. This new seven-inch mixes the sounds they’ve been developing during the past 14 years, and the synthesis is quite pleasant.

Folk music from New England has a very distinctive sound, fun and lively, and I’m much more partial to it than most other country-influenced acts. As a former New Englander myself, it makes me feel nostalgic — but you don’t have to be native to the northeast to enjoy RCR. The A-side, “Hades,” is a catchy, uptempo folk tune, well-accented with staccato piano. B-side “Shiny Gun” alternates tempos and choral vocals, with lyrics that have found a way to stick in my head. Overall, a high quality and very entertaining single from a band that occupies a very unique niche.

(Screaming Crow Records, 4407 Bowes Ave., West Mifflin, PA 15122)