There's something to be said for consistency. And Blue Rodeo are saying it. Again.

After more than two decades and 11 studio albums, these Toronto twangers have become as dependable as a designated driver. You buy a Blue Rodeo album, you know exactly what you're getting: Some melodic, hooky pop from the McCartneyesque Jim Cuddy; some shaggy, trippy rock from his Lennonesque foil Greg Keelor; and nimble, impeccable performances from the rest of the band.

Well, surprise: That's what you get again on the band's latest disc Small Miracles, in stores Sept. 25.

Oh sure, they spice it up a bit here and there with dashes of '60s Beatle-pop and psychedelia, along with torchy bossa-nova jazz and even a little mellow soul. But really, that's just window dressing; underneath that, Blue Rodeo are still the same as they ever were.

And, hopefully, the same as they always will be.

So Far Away 3:48

It starts off as sauntering, twangy roots-pop -- precisely as you'd expect from BR. Then it seamlessly segues into something you wouldn't expect -- groovy, lightly funky piano-pop with dusty vocals by Greg, a '60s hippie-folk chorus and a piano solo.

This Town 3:47

Already, the script gets flipped. This starts out as a romantic piano ballad -- with Jim handling both the keys and vocals -- and then builds into guitar-based country-rock. The weepy harmonized guitar solo should wow the Skynyrd fans.

Blue House 3:24

Keelor capably handles this upbeat, two-stepping slice of honky-tonk heartbreak -- but Bob Egan nearly steals the show with his fluid pedal steel work.

Hours Away 3:38

The mic-swapping continues, with Cuddy voicing this breezy acoustic country-folker decorated with Glenn Milchem's delicate snare-brush work and atmospheric steel guitar from Egan.

Makes Me Wonder 5:43

Between the gorgeous keyboards, the laid-back acoustic strumming and Keelor's grainy pipes, this wistful country-waltz lament recalls Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Summer Girls 4:10

"Summer girls, they sure are fun / Get so golden in the sun," sings Cuddy to a suitably summery soundtrack featuring a thumpy tom-tom bounce and jangly, ringing guitars. Toss in some strings and a smoking guitar solo and you've got one of the disc's more distinctive cuts.

Together 4:59

Greg lounges around to a languid bossa nova beat laced with noodly piano and burbly guitar. His smoky vocal kinda sounds like one of those Elvis Costello-Burt Bacharach collabos -- but with bongos!

Mystic River 4:10

Nope, it's not a tribute to Dennis Lehane's gritty crime novel -- or the Clint Eastwood movie. It's a mandolin-flecked bit of easy-flowing back-porch roots-pop sung by Jim.

Black Ribbon 6:45

The band stretches out on the disc's longest cut -- a lazy Crazy Horse country-rocker with lyrics about heaven descending, and a Beatlesque middle section with strings, wind effects and bells. Naturally, Keelor is in charge of this one.

C'mon 3:15

Here comes the single -- and of course, Cuddy and his boyish pipes take the lead on this rootsy pop-rocker with a hooky chorus and a spry gait.

Small Miracles 3:26

Cuddy throws off the rotation by singing two in a row. But since it's this understatedly elegant piano waltz -- think Tom Waits before he turned into Captain Beefheart -- we'll forgive him.

Beautiful 6:07

Apparently, one good waltz deserves another. This time, it's Keelor's turn to croon, while the band creates a delicate, snowy backdrop of tinkly piano and pizzicato strings. Too bad the song inexplicably (and unnecessarily) shifts into bongo-soul for the last couple of minutes.

Where I Was Before 3:45

A rich grand piano, a mournful French horn, and Jim singing about chasing ghosts -- yep, it's the closing ballad.