I take your point Stuart and I often feel the same about some albums / bands. Listening to this new SE&L album though to my ears anyway sounds just like they did 40 years ago or pretty much so. It doesn't sound 'modern' in production terms though perhaps others think it does. I could easily listen to it a smuch and in the same sitting as their 70s output. I also really liked the Long Riders 2019 album 'Psychedelic Country Soul'. OK they were playing on the sound they are known for from the 80s in the title to sell it I suppose but it is a very enjoyable album. I'm not a fan of slavish musical tributes but I don't know anyone else still currently playing in this wonderful style as closely to the Byrds sound (cue ecxamples of just such bands etc) and it is a sound I am more than happy to hear new songs written in the style of. I can see why SE&L formed in the first place to perpetuate exactly this sound which they are still doing. More power to them.
I've had interesting discussions with friends about bands from 'back in the day' starting to record again, there seems to be a real surge going on. The concensus is that the songwriting and musicianship is mostly well up to expectations and that, on occasion, the element that takes most getting used to is the vocals which inevitably are more gruff and lower octave than in their heyday.
Paul,thank you for your comments,believe it or not,i got an e mail from Tony Poole,from Starry Eyed and Laughing,because i had dealt with him before ,as he was doing cds of Starry Eyed and Laughing unreleased material that was as you'd expect absolutely marvellous.......this group should've been huge.....it's like when you ask yourself about the uk Kaleidoscope/Fairfield Parlour,great material .....but did very little commercially,Starry Eyed and Laughing fall into that category,extremely strong material,brilliantly played with a real west coast Byrdsy vibe to some off it,but there's far more than the often Byrds comparison...though they have that 12 string to a T.It's trully puzzling when genuinely talented groups ewho gave their all and wotked hard,come away with very little,but at least their efforts and talent will be heard forever..........