Grayson Capps’ music evades any easy categorization. Over the course of his previous albums, he’s spanned a broad swath of specific genres, from blues and folk to rock and country, all embossed with a Southern sensibility. That’s not uncommon, of course; all those styles generally find a common bond at one juncture or another. Nevertheless, Capps’ reticence to confine himself to a specific approach has always made it difficult to typecast him—an inconvenient obstacle that’s thwarted his attempts to secure wider recognition. That said, Scarlett Roses takes a tentative step toward remedying that situation, thanks to some familiar touchstones that tend to confine him to an affable Americana persona. At least, that’s the initial impression. There’s less variation in tone and treatment, with Capps adopting the persona of a hardcore hipster. That’s especially true of the album’s centerpiece song, “Bag of Weed,” which brings to mind the smooth groove of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in particular. “You Can’t Turn Around,” “Hold Me Darlin” and the title track add to Capps’ credence as a master of an easy shuffle and a dry delivery, but it’s his seemingly unaffected attitude that mostly stands out here. That’s a welcome-sign indication that Capps is embracing a stoic sound that may help accelerate ready recognition. “I’d rather make my own way down the road,” he confesses on the aptly titled “New Again,” and indeed, those singular sentiments underscore the album overall. Not only is Scarlett Roses Capps’ best effort to date, but it’s also his most direct and demonstrative as well.