Rock & Roll makes for familiar bedfellows with ambition. Ambition has a gravity about itself, a magnetism that can draw the right kinds of hipness, attention, and, occasionally, funding.

So when the Jamie McLean Band decided to test the 21st century waters of crowdsourcing for an ambitious vision, they were truly heading for the deep end. Using Kickstarter.com’s “All or Nothing” bottom line, the band reached out to their network of family, friends, and fans to see if they would find enough of a kindred spirit to bring life to a year-long, 4-EP production process. With less than one day remaining before deadline, the band hit their $10,000 goal, Kickstarter collected the funds, and the first EP was digitally delivered to funders as a pre-release thank you.

Said first EP, a “studio electric” songbook, collects six fine chapters of American rock & roll under the title of the first single, an open-road anthem called “Time Of My Life” that sounds like the right kind of buddy-movie theme song. Plowing into the slightly-detuned bluesified groove of “Girl Is Mine,” McLean’s guitar is slinky, funky, and big- big, like the rest of the band. Drummer Brian Griffin and bassist Ben Mars, the latter of which makes his first official JMB album appearance, understand the alchemy of a power trio; with few overdubs, the arrangements and production allow each tom roll, low E slide, and harmony vocal to fit properly, which is refreshing, considering other contemporary options.

“Best I’ve Ever Known” and “Hurricane” bring respective and welcome touches of country and 90’s alternative to the mix, while “Best I’ve Ever Known” and “Dear Love” feature some of the album’s best turns of phrase. The closer, “Almost Home”, is the feel-good. comfort food end befitting the song set.

If you wish, look ahead to the “studio acoustic”, “covers with guests” and “live set” EP’s that will descend next- but be sure you fully enjoy this succinct yet sweet burst of properly done RnR.