A year and a half from their 50th anniversary, the Nighthawks long since passed into the category of reviewer-proof recordings. Even with personnel changes over the decades (the current iteration is down to four members), the sound remains happily identifiable: blues, r&b and roots-rock done with verve, swing and immaculate musicianship.

I imagine this sort of thing is best experienced live, but their CDs are pretty entertaining on their own. Of course, consistent quality has the unfortunate, perhaps inevitable, effect of making it easier to take the Nighthawks for granted. When you put on their latest disc, though, the resulting shock makes it clear how dumb it is to fall into that lazy mindset. The groove also carries you back to that imagined joint where the music is always blues and its close relatives, played for your weary soul's renewal.

I can only speculate why Tryin' to Get to You seems a tad more notable than the usual offering. Likely, that's not literally true; maybe it's because it's fresh and it reminds me of the special pleasure I associate with hearing the Nighthawks. They don't blast one out of the room; the playing and singing are joyful and tuneful, and always on a human scale. Which is how blues is supposed to be: life observed, lessons learned, heartbreak endured, pleasures enjoyed. Though the band's influences are clear enough, hardly anybody does it quite like this anymore, including a whole lot of blues-rock acts on the current scene.

Besides that, Mark Wenner continues to work his harmonica magic, everybody sings likably, and the songs -- originals and covers (mostly the latter) -- are delights. I am grateful that the guys decided to do "Don't Worry Baby" (the Los Lobos one, not the Beach Boys', though that's good, too). Not to mention T Bone Walker's "I Know Your Wig is Gone," one of a strain of blues songs about fake hair (e.g., Hound Dog Taylor's "Give Me Back My Wig") -- often, one gathers, an object of thievery. And the very fine originals "I Hate a Nickel" and "The Cheap Stuff," the latter an acoustic downhome blues that closes out the album.

Well, everything else, too. You might think of adding it to your collection at first opportunity. It'll help get you through what's shaping up to be a harrowing summer.