Kyle Chadburn & the Earthbound Spirits, So Much Left to Show Credit: Courtesy

(Self-released, digital)

After years of tracking songs in the most DIY fashion, it’s understandable that bands looking to take the next step may be eager to go whole hog on production. But having access to a top-notch recording studio and all of its handy tricks and tools can be a double-edged sword.

The danger is making an overproduced record, devoid of personality. Think egregious use of backing singers and Pro Tools punch-ins. But musical opulence has many forms.

Horns, for instance. Sometimes bands get a little horn budget and lose their damn minds. Vermont Americana and folk-rock act Kyle Chadburn & the Earthbound Spirits are no neophytes, however, and prove their production prowess on their new LP, So Much Left to Show.

Horns are all over the new album, to the point of being one of its driving characteristics. From the jaunty groove-heavy funk of opener “Heartless” to the Southern-rock grit of closer “By & By,” trumpeter Sam Atallah and tenor sax player Avery Cooper play a huge role.

The horns help usher the band into more soulful territory than on previous efforts. “The One We Used to Sing” finds the group occupying a sweet spot between jammy pop and a funk-soul sound. The interplay among Atallah, Cooper and keyboardist Mike Fried is near telepathic.

For all the preponderance of brass and woodwinds, Chadburn and company find plenty of chances to rock out. “(I Know) It’s Not the Same as Love” charges out of the gate, with Chadburn taking on a Don Henley-like vocal tone. It’s not the only characteristic the band shares with the Eagles. Honestly, listening to So Much Left to Show got me thinking the Eagles could have used some more horns.

It’s an eclectic album, moving through jam rock, white-guy funk, roots and Americana. By and large, that range is a strength of an all-around solid record. The band’s chemistry and comfort with Chadburn’s songs are apparent from the first note.

And despite having access to all the goodies at producer Ben Collette’s Tank Recording Studio in Burlington, the band resists the urge to overdo things. Atallah arranged the horns with the utmost taste, and the band sounds tight as hell, all while maintaining an organic groove.

This record doesn’t represent a new phase of Chadburn’s career; he’s been pushing into soul, R&B, and funk over his past few albums. But he seems to have found his happy place, as evinced by tracks such as “Comfort You.” A soulful roots rocker that seems tailor-made for sunny summer festival stages, the tune showcases all of the band’s best attributes.

So Much Left to Show is available now on major streaming services and at earthboundspiritsvt.com. Kyle Chadburn & the Earthbound Spirits play the Old Stage at the Double E in Essex this Wednesday, July 29.

This article appears in July 29 • 2026.

Music editor Chris Farnsworth has written countless albums reviews and features on Vermont's best musicians, and has seen more shows than is medically advisable. He's played in multiple bands over decades in the local scene and is a recording artist in...