For Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, their fourth studio album, “Good Light, represents their highly underrated understanding of emotion rather than their growth as a group over the past year.

If these guys are strangers to you, consider jumping right in and hitting play to get acclimated to their full-hearted sound. It’s just that easy.

Needing little introduction, Holcomb’s voice is very full and heartwarmingly tender, but equal amounts of time are spent listening to his Tennessean accent click into action. “Another Man’s Shoes” best illustrates his innate ability as he draws, “If you ain’t learn that by now/Go ahead, walk another mile.” With the help of his wife, Ellie, this track is destined for a coffeehouse playlist. Feel free to add it to yours.

Holcomb’s wife, who shares vocal responsibilities, has a certain warming quality herself. Now and again, her voice is faintly heard but as a buttery echo to her husband’s ever-softening tone.

“Good Light” is clearly the album’s most captivating effort. “Hey there’s a good light/Shining through/And I need it tonight,” Holcomb sings on Good Light’s second glimpse of the bands personality. Feelings of compassion and wonder arise, as Holcomb, now, more than ever, illuminates some very uplifting themes of open-mindedness and cheerfulness in times of despair.

Further down, “Wine We Drink” is about as vulnerable as Drew Holcomb gets. Forgetting the words to songs and laughing at the wrong time are touched upon in this fragile track that lightly crumbles with its tenderness. Holcomb has never seemed more human, though. If you’re in the mood, this one is an effortless listen.

This year is definitely going to be Holcomb’s, as “Good Light” is destined to grab the attention it deserves. Is it in my album of the year conversation? Probably not. It could creep into my top 10 if it avoids the dreaded pit radio created for folk-rock artists. And don’t act like I’m the only music critic in the country to ever throw those words on a page. I don’t have the numbers to back this up, but plenty of folk-rock bands have lost more than just their appeal after taking the plunge into the icy radio controlled waters. I’m glancing slyly out of the corner of my eye at you, Lumineers… 

This album is now available on iTunes, so pick up a copy today.

4/5 stars