Short of blues, there is no more prominent influence on rock music than folk. As such, it can sometimes be difficult not to get lost in the shuffle of acoustic guitar-wielding would be rock and roll troubadours. Local folk-rock act Cortland Burke and Associates attempt to stand out on their own with the eight-track Passport. For the most part, they succeed; Burke’s Elvis Costello-like croon peppers the mature, understated tunes as his Associates take a tasteful song-driven approach to their parts. The singer and band’s complimentary musicianship makes Passport feel effortless, but at times the record falls victim to by-the-numbers folk rock. Even when the band tries to spread its wings on the coda of “It Gets Late,” potential feels squandered as the festival-ready groove seems to flatten out before it has a chance to develop.

However, keeping things simple is at times the record’s saving grace and allows subtle influences to seep in. “Broken Record” veers into indie rock before exploding into guitarist Chris Adkins’ dark driving Western slide guitar riff, while “This Plane” shows the band at their most outright rock, sounding like a sepia-tinted U2. The clear winner of the set is the closing track, the cleverly named “Bury Me With My Passport.” Burke’s melodic singing engages in a gospel call-and-response with the backing vocals as the band coasts along to drummer Chris Arceneaux’s rollicking country rhythm. The mortality-themed track ends Passport on a bittersweet note, showing that sometimes the best way to stick out in a tired genre is to play things close to the vest.