Old 97's

American Primitive

ATO, 2024

9/10

Listen to American Primitive

The Dallas legends Old 97’s celebrate their 30 years together with this 13th studio album, which has Rhett Miller, Murry Hammond, Ken Bethea and Philip Peeples in fine form.

The powerful and hazy “Falling Down” starts the listen with plenty of sonic ambience amid Miller’s unmistakable vocals, and “Somebody” follows with warm guitar and Peeples’ thumping drums that make for a moody version of alt-country.

Deeper into the listen, the flowing acoustic guitar and Hammond’s playful bass make “Honeypie” a charming Americana moment, while the power-pop bursts of the intimate “Masterpiece” contains both grit and melody.

Landing near the end, “Chased The Setting Sun” will get you searching for your cowboy boots and the nearest dance floor thanks to the rural energy that benefits much from Bethea’s fluid guitar, and “Estuviera Cayendo” exits with a cultured and instrumental finish that’s just acoustic guitar.

The pioneers of alt-country show no signs of slowing down, and their garage rock spirit, scrappy rock’n’roll and powerful, rootsy ways are still among the best of its kind.

Travels well with: Mason Jennings- Real Heart; Barenaked Ladies- In Flight

Cris Jacobs

One Of These Days

Soundly, 2024

8/10

Listen to One Of These Days

An esteemed singer-songwriter who has gone through a rough patch recently, Cris Jacobs pens 11 personal songs here, where an excellent cast helps guide him through a distinct version of Americana that is quite heartfelt.

“Heavy Water” opens the listen with no lack of bluegrass spirit, where Jeremy Garrett’s swift fiddle suits the gospel fueled backing vocals and Jacobs’ warm pipes, and “Wild Roses And Dirt” follows with a dreamy mood, where pretty singing and gorgeous pedal steel make for a hazy intimacy.

The title track lands in the middle, and uses Sam Bush’s meticulous mandolin and Ashby Frank’s well time harmony vocals, while “Lifetime To Go” recruits Lee Ann Womack’s gorgeous vocals that suit Travis Book’s agile bass plucking.

Arriving close to the end, “Codl, Cold Walls” benefits much from The McCrary Sisters, whose well timed voices add much soul to the rich album highlight, and “Everybody’s Lost” exits with focus on Jacobs’ eloquent storytelling, as Chris Pandolli’s banjo and Andy Hall’s dobro contribute much to the light melodies.

Jacobs’ backing band, The Infamous Stringdusters, pull of an excellent performance, where blues, gospel, folk and bluegrass ideas are all applied evenly and meticulously for this therapeutic and relatable body of work.

Travels well with: Jonah Tolchin- Dockside; Kitchen Dwellers- Wise River

Aaron Irwin Trio

(after)

Adhyâropa, 2024

9/10

Listen to (after)

The 9th album from the composer, saxophonist and clarinetist Aaron Irwin, the 9 tracks here recruit Mike Baggetta and Jeff Hirshfield for songs rooted in poetry and that revolve around jazz.

“Recuerdo (after Edna St. Vincent Millay)” starts the listen with warm guitar and cozy sax for the soothing delivery, and “Frederik Douglass (after Robert Hayden)” follows with an intimate mood, where eloquent wordplay suits the soulful sax.

Halfway through, “The Hill (after Joshua Mehigan)” uses strategic clarinet amid Hirshfield’s light drumming for a building climate, while “When I Heard At The Close Of The Day (after Walt Whitman)” is an upbeat and frisky delivery of flowing clarinet, lively drums and Baggetta’s spirited guitar work.

Close to the end, “Daniel Boone (after Stephen Vincent Benét)” benefits from a very precise minimalism that meshes the low wind with meticulous guitar progressions, and “The President Visits The Storm (after Shane McCrae)” exits with a dizzying and buzzing demeanor of thicker rock tendencies.

A body of work rooted in melancholy, effervescence and anxiety fueled chaos, the sprinkling of voices into the unpredictable musicianship is highly articulate, powerful and atypically creative.

Travels well with: Dana Kaufman- Emily & Sue; Danny Fox Trio- Time Took Care Of It

Sarah King

When It All Goes Down

Ringleader, 2023

8/10

Listen to When It All Goes Down

The debut album from the Vermont Americana artist Sarah King, the veteran musician dealt with much tragedy at one time, and that led to these darker, introspective songs.

The thoughtful and soulful “Lord Take My Soul” starts the listen with King’s expressive voice and agile guitar emitting much power, and “Always An Almost” follows with Jason Pappas’ playful bass and Alex Kelley’s warm keys making for a cozy presence.

The middle belongs to the dreamy ambience of “Blame It On The Booze”, where Jeff Lipstein’s thumping drums and Asa Brosius’ eloquent pedal steel won’t go unnoticed, while “Hey Hey What Can I Do” recruits Johnny Stanton’s bass and melodic singing from King for the frisky album highlight.

Landing near the end, “Pretty Things” welcomes a hazy intimacy via Renee Hikari’s agile drums and the mysterious singing, and “Devil’s Try” exits with firm hand clapping and rugged qualities amid Dan Blaise’s meticulous slide guitar.

A highly eclectic listen, King is versed in blues, Southern sounds, Gothic ebbs and country, as this is a cathartic and relatable experience from an artist whose sincerity matches her creativity.

Travels well with: Rachel Burns- What A Nasty Woman; Lauren Monroe- Messages From Aphrodite

Dave Bass

Trio Nuevo

Tiger Turn, 2024

8/10

Listen to Trio Nuevo

This 7th release from the pianist and composer Dave Bass brings in Tyler Miles and Steve Helfand for what is his most eclectic record to date.

The striking mood of “These Times” starts the listen with Bass’ intricate piano alongside Miles’ playful bass, and “As Time Goes By” follows with a distinct dreaminess via the quick keys and Helfano’s light drumming prowess.

In the middle, the frisky energy of “Baby Melon” bops and shakes with a dance floor ready appeal, while “December” illustrates a dynamic chemistry between the trio, where timeless jazz flows with warmth and arco bass from Miles.

Landing near the end, “Offshore Breeze” carries a charming intimacy that showcases Bass’ meticulous key progressions, and “Gone” exits with a busier and rich album highlight that has all 3 illustrating their respective talents in spades.

Bass is capable of Bach inspired tunes just as he is bebop, and this 4th trio album embraces plenty of free jazz, swing fun and classical nods that are highly memorable.

Travels well with: Jeremy Monteiro- Sings; Jim Self- Touch And Go

Glenn Marais & The Mojo Train

Red, Hot And Blue

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen To Red, Hot And Blue

The Ontario blues rocker Glenn Marais brings his esteemed band for these Motown, Mississippi and Philadelphia inspired tracks that are never short on grace and beauty.

“That’s Where My Mojo’s At” starts the listen with Marais’ spirited guitar and Jeff Saulnier’s thumping drums that blend soul and blues with grit and melody, and “Superfunk” follows with Jesse Karwat’s lively keys that complement the dense climate.

Into the middle, “It All Went Down” benefits much from Manny DeGrandis’ skilled bass for the loud versus soft dynamics, while “The Song Of Love” displays both intimacy and power thanks to dreamy flute and well timed brass.

Residing near the end, the multi-faceted “Pink Lemonade” blends jazz, rock and gospel for the album’s best, and “Professor Day” exits with lively, funk fun that’s as infectious as it is memorable.

A record where each track brings surprises and leaves an indelible impression, Marais and company make the most out of every diverse, bluesy moment here.

Travels well with: Blackburn Brothers- SoulFunkn’ Blues; Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns- Canboro Canborough

Touching

I Can Be Two People At Once

Head In The Sand, 2024

9/10

Listen to I Can Be Two People At Once

The brainchild of the multi-instrumentalist Michael Falk, as Touching he’s got plenty of friends along for this avant-garde version of jazz.

“It’s So Hard To Change A Lie” opens with Falk’s warm voice alongside Sean Irvine’s well timed sax and Dave Quanbury’s flowing Rhodes, and “Ocean Of Smiles” follows with Olive Louise’s expressive singing alongside Dunlop’s cozy bass and Sandy Fernandez’s fluid drumming.

“Feeling Swell” lands in the middle and employs Curtis Nowosad’s moody drums and Laura Smith’s distinct pipes in the intimate landscape, while “Jitterbug” lands in heartfelt territory thanks to Quanbury’s calm keys and Irvine’s soulful sax.

Landing near the end, “Stand Aside” benefits much from Cody Iwasiuk’s meticulous drums alongside Falk’s deep voice with a hint of mystery, and “Harvest In The Time Of Children” exits with a somewhat more straight forward jazz approach that uses Dunlop’s programming and plenty of ambience.

Falks’ background involves punk rock, synth and tense song craft, and the experimental nature of these very atypical songs makes every selection worth repeated listens.

Travels well with: Disaster Pony- Disaster Pony; Last Ark Out- Lift

Maggie's Wake

Maggie’s Wake

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Maggie’s Wake

The debut album from the London, Ontario folk outfit Maggie’s Wake, the 13 songs here from Tara Dunphy, Lindsay Schindler, Ken Edward Palmer, Andrew Kosty, Dean Harrison and Stephan Szezesniak also welcomes a few guests for the timeless spirit.

The warm acoustic strumming of “Maid Of Fortune” starts the listen with Schindler’s stirring fiddle and Dunphy’s lively banjo making for a very melodic climate, and “Adaptation” follows with Kyle Waymouth’s intricate guitar complementing the Celtic nods of the lush delivery.

Deeper into the listen, the playful and punchy “Grosse Isle (Far Away)” uses Szezesniak’s crisp drumming amid Dunphy’s expressive storytelling, while “Dochas” gets intimate via Harrison’s flowing piano and Dunphy’s dreamy flute that emits much beauty in the instrumental track.

Arriving near the end, the rhythmic and stylish “Shaken & Stirred” makes great use of Andrew Kosty’s playful bass lines, and “Bye For Now” exits with poetic fiddle that tug on the heartstrings.

A highly diverse version of modern folk, the Irish and Cajun influences won’t go unnoticed, as Maggie’s Wake make for a harmonic, textured and memorable first effort.

Travels well with: Andrew VanNorstrand- That We Could Find A Way To Be; Abigail Lapell- Anniversary

Ohio Players

Observations In Time: The Johnny Brantley/Vidalia Productions

Omnivore, 2024

8/10

Listen to Observations In Time: The Johnny Brantley/Vidalia Productions

A funk outfit who made quite a name for themselves in the ‘70s, Ohio Players released Observations In Time, their debut album, in 1969, and here it lives again with 13 extra tracks.

“Here Today Gone Tomorrow” starts the listen with a cozy mood, before soulful singing and crisp drumming enters alongside the bright brass, and it isn’t long until “Over The Rainbow” leads with booming horns, as the intimate singing flows with much heart.

Further into the original album, the soft versus loud bouts of “Summertime” provide for a contrasting climate that’s exciting, while “The Man I Am” carries plenty of frisky keys, rhythmic guitars and powerful singing. The final track from the LP is where “Street Party” indeed carries a festive spirit that allows Bobby Fears’ sturdy voice to radiate amid Ralph Meadowbrooks’ well timed trumpet.

Of the bonus material, the scrappy “Tell Me Why” uses Marshall Jones’ wild bass superbly, and the busy yet meticulous “I Gotta Get Away” spotlights Dutch Robinson’s swift piano that suits the heartfelt vocals.

The Ohio Players brought us hits like “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster”, and their songs were covered by names like David Bowie. The selections here were penned during a pivotal point of their career, and with new liner notes from Tim Dillinger-Curenton, it documents the legends hinting at R&B and a progressive vision that was far ahead of its time.

Travels well with: Blood, Sweat & Tears- What The Hell Happened To Blood, Sweat & Tears?- Original Soundtrack; The Stylistics- Love Is Back In Style

Shawn Kellerman

Kell’s Kitchen

Songsurfer, 2024

8/10

Listen to Kell’s Kitchen

The Canadian guitarist Shawn Kellerman brings a large cast of musicians to these 14 songs that continue his position as one of Canada’s most influential blues artists.

The rockin’ and animated “SKB” starts the listen with Terry Richardson’s playful bass complementing Kellerman’s gritty voice and lively guitar, and “Drivin’” follows with Van Romaine’s hard hitting drums that suit the dense blues flavor that’s both rugged and melodic.

Further along, Jason Ricci’s flowing harmonica enters the cautious spirit of “Hard Man To Please”, which builds into a punchy climate, while “Down By The River” brings a swampy spirit via Noah Allard’s expressive pipes.

Deeper yet, “Runnin’ Back To Saskatoon” benefits much from Dominic DiGravio’s keys, clav and synth programming for the rich blues rocker, and “Living Off The Love You Give” exits with Ray Podhornik’s soaring trumpet adding another dimension to the gospel nods of the timeless finish.

A highly eclectic affair that touches on funk, ska, southern ideas and rootsy nods from all over the spectrum, Kellerman’s enjoyed a 3 decade career, and he’s clearly not stopping anytime soon, thankfully.

Travels well with: Jeff Rogers- Dream Job; Leo Lyons- Movin’ On

Jack Manley

Unmeasurable Terms

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Unmeasurable Terms

The Hudson Valley singer-songwriter Jack Manley makes for a very personal debut, where the 4 songs surround sobriety and recruits Billy Pearson, Addy Idol, Jeffrey Berner and Josh Eppard.

“Save Your Own” starts the quick listen with bright singing, crisp drums and a dreamy approach of shiny indie-pop that’s quite inviting, and the title track follows with fluid acoustic guitar before a hazy ambience enters and flows alongside Eppard’s agile drums and Idol’s intricate bass.

The back half offers the retro and scrappy garage rock meets soul pop of “Tightrope Life”, while “Smack Water” is a bit more firm, with rich textures from the guitars and a distinct groove that lingers long after the track ends.

Manley cut his teeth in the bands Cosmonaut and Spires. More recently, he formed The Jennifer Shop before a hiatus from music, and after some personal issues he went back to songwriting as a form of therapy. Thankfully, he’s got more songs on the horizon, cause his vision is a nice addition to today’s diverse version of indie-rock.

Travels well with: Setting Sun- The Feelings Cure; The Get Right Band- iTopia

Jacqui Naylor

Treasures Of The Heart

Ruby Star, 2024

8/10

Listen to Treasures Of The Heart

The always impressive jazz vocalist Jacqui Naylor brings more greatness to this 12th album, where jazz, R&B, pop and soul are all present for the 14 well crafted tunes.

“I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” gets the listen off to a warm start, where Naylor’s distinct voice is met with Ele Howell’s frisky drums, and the title track follows with Art Khu’s playful piano which suits the flowing singing that carries a unique rhythm and no lack of funk, too.

Closer to the middle, “Love’s Around” benefits much from Richie Goods’ strategic bass via the indeed romantic spirit, while “You’re The One For Me” allows for Naylor’s diverse delivery to radiate amid careful yet melodic song craft that flirts with Motown.

Residing near the end, “This Guy’s In Love With You” tugs on the heartstrings thanks to the cozy keys and moody drums, and “We’ll Shine Through” exits with a rich, dynamic flavor that touches on the blues.

Naylor’s smokey voice is certainly front and center, but the many grooves and eclectic take on jazz sure is appreciated for yet another excellent addition to her catalog.

Travels well with: Andrea Wolper- Wanderlust; Julie Kelly- Freedom Jazz Dance

Grant Langston

aLAbama

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to aLAbama

The multi-instrumentalist Grant Langston returns with a 10th studio album, where an all star cast accompanies him for the dance floor ready, country album.

“Country Or Bust” gets the record started off with plenty of warm twang amid Langston’s smooth voice and the flowing melodies, and “This Old Truck” follows with Tony Horkin’s thumping drums that suit the gritty yet harmonic honky tonk nods.

Closer to the middle, “Make Your Move” carries a rhythmic spirit via the meticulous guitar and pretty vocal harmonies, while “Pure Grain Guarantee” recruits The Hawtthorns for a bar room rocker that seems like it could incite lively dancing or maybe a brawl.

Residing near the end, the swift album highlight, “Keep It Coming”, allows Mark Christian’s radiant banjo to help fuel the dynamic songwriting, and “Corporate Hack” exits with an intimate moment of beauty, grace and poeticism.

A listen that will appeal to fans of country from any era, the classic country bouts and honky tonk fun make every tune here a good time, or, occasionally, a moment to reflect,

Travels well with: Breezers- Hideaway; Jon Byrd- All Your Mistakes

Spencer LaJoye

Shadow Puppets

Self-Released, 2024

9/10

Listen to Shadow Puppets

The Michigan singer-songwriter Spencer LaJoye pens 12 songs here that revolve around childhood memories, family dynamics and shame, and there’s plenty of folk ideas to appreciate via the very thoughtful listen.

The title track opens with LaJoye’s warm acoustic guitar and bright vocals that welcome stirring strings, and “Chaotic Neutral” follows with Billy Harrington’s thumping drums that complement the expressive singing of the folk-rock climate.

Halfway through, “Reverie” makes great use of Sav Buist’s graceful violin and viola alongside the poetic vocals of the very pretty album highlight, while “The Joker” employs Katie Larson’s stirring cello amid the sublime intimacy where LaJoye’s captivating voice shines.

Approaching the end, “Surgery” benefits much from Kylee Phillips’ backing vocals in the soothing delivery, and “Forgiveness” exits with graceful piano from LaJoye, as the gripping balladry has us hanging on every powerful note.

A stunning talent who can parallel the greatness achieved by Julien Baker, these tales from a formerly closeted queer kid will dig right down to your soul.

Travels well with: Annie Moscow- Land Of Dreams; Summerlyn Powers- The Hive

Neal Alger

Old Souls

Calligram, 2024

8/10

Listen to Old Souls

The guitarist and composer Neal Alger has a lengthy resume playing with many artists, and here he focuses on his own music for 9 tracks that welcome Chris Madsen, Chad McCullough, Clark Sommers and Dana Hall.

“Old Souls” starts the listen with Alger’s moody guitar alongside Madsen’s soulful tenor sax in a very rich climate, and “This Is Not A Test” follows and bops and shakes with a lively energy via Hall’s agile drums and Alger’s meticulous guitar.

Halfway through, “Go With The Sco-Flow” carries an intimate spirit via the cozy rhythm section and well timed trumpet from McCullough, while “If Only For A Moment” is full of dreamy ideas that can be quite stirring.

“Dance Of The Miscreants” and “Softly She Sings”, the last 2 tracks, are among the best, where the former blend the horns with a vibrant guitar tone, and the latter finishes with a soft and poetic demeanor.

An artist with an eclectic vision, Alger’s work is executed much heart and attention to detail, which is evident across this entire listen.

Travels well with: Alex Beltran- rift; Steve Million- Perfectly Spaced

Alex Beltran

rift

Calligram, 2024

9/10

Listen to rift

The tenor and soprano sax wizard Alex Beltran has made quite a name for himself in the Chicago scene and beyond, and this first album on the Calligram label has him leaning on his Mexican-American roots for his most personal effort to date.

The soulful and warm “Lulu” gets the listen off to a rhythmic start, where Jon Deitemyer’s frisky drums complement the soulful brass, and “Bird Dance” follows with an indeed body shaking mood that uses Stu Mindeman’s lively keys well.

The middle spot belongs to the intimate and moody “Frequency”, where Sam Peters’ atmospheric bass suits the heartfelt demeanor and Chad McCollough’s trumpet, while “Fragments” bops and shakes with a dizzying display of loud sax, swift drums and acrobatic bass lines.

The last two tracks don’t disappoint, either, where “The River Will Decide” carries an eloquence that aligns the dreamy keys with emotive sax, and the “Rift” exits with a dynamic and flowing jazz spirit that allows Beltran’s agile sax playing to radiate amid the fluid keys and meticulous rhythm section.

A listen that can swing with much energy just as it can retreat to calm moments of introspection, Beltran and his excellent company bring the grooves, rhythm and melody in spades.

Travels well with: Steve Million- Perfectly Spaced; Atlantic Road Trip- One

Giulia Millanta

Only Luna Knows

Ugly Cat, 2024

8/10

Listen to Only Luna Knows

The Italian singer-songwriter Giulia Millanta returns with a 9th album, where 10 songs embrace a variety of influences that welcomes Don Antonio, Danilo Gallo and Diego Sapignoli, plus others.

The dreamy mood of “Fatale” starts the listen with Millanta’s distinct voice alongside crisp drums and rich strings, and “Luna, la Follia” follows with Gallo’s playfully plucked upright bass amid the stylish singing of the cultured climate.

Halfway through, “Stormy Night In Paradise” showcases Sapignoli’s thumping drums that suits the playful pop nods, while “I Dance My Way” starts soft before building into a frisky, dynamic album highlight that you can certainly dance to.

Approaching the end, the warm keys of “Love Is A Sadness Machine’ segues into cautious bass and emotive singing in a bit of a mysterious ambience, and “Mi Chiamava Lulu’” exits with a poetic, vocally focused finish of gorgeous minimalism.

Millanta is also a world class cook, and her influences from legends like Pink Floyd, Paul Simon and even opera won’t go unnoticed across this sophisticated and worldly affair.

Travels well with: Ezra Grey- Afterall; Ellen Woloshin- Pop Torch

Tipps And Obermiller

MacGuffin

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to MacGuffin

The sophomore effort from Hilary Tipps and Steve Obermiller, the 10 songs welcome plenty of guests and a choir to folk, Americana and country spirited songs.

The warm vocal harmonies of “All I Need” opens the record with Tipps and Obermiller’s fluid guitars being complemented by Trey Ware’s agile drumming, and “Fort Worth” follows with a powerful duet, where a gospel feeling is present amid Aden Bubeck’s fluid bass.

The scrappy and upbeat “Middle Age Prodigy” lands in the middle, and welcomes dreamy guitars and a breeziness that we could never tire of, while “We Went To Work” allows Tipps’ impressive range to shine alongside the careful rhythm section.

Closer to the end, “Welcome To The Choir” builds into a rich and textured album highlight of rootsy flavor that uses the McGuffin choir’s soothing voices, and “Intro Song” exits with thicker guitars, bouncy bass and a fun mix of singing and talking.

Obermiller and Tipps are married, and the chemistry between them reflects that, as their excellent band guides them through very playful, relatable and sincere songs that we won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: Heather Little- By Now; Scott Sean White- Even Better On The Bad Days

Katie Oates

Edge Of A Hurricane

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Edge Of A Hurricane

The longtime singer and guitar player Katie Oates brings all original songs to this 5th album, where Chris Rosser, Parker Foley, River Guerguerian and Lynn Rosser are in attendance for the well thought out tracks.

The expressive and eloquent “Reason Enough” opens with Oates’ poetic singing alongside warm acoustic guitar, and “Up In The Air” follows with Guerguerian’s fluid drums complementing the cozy guitar and articulate storytelling.

Into the middle, the emotive “Trouble Walk On By” welcomes Chris Rosser’s sturdy electric guitar in the bluesy, gospel influenced climate, while “Dark Clouds” makes great use of Foley’s strategic bass for the thumping and thicker rocker which puts Lynn Rosser’s harmony vocals to use.

Near to the end, the mature piano and heartfelt “Love Will Find A Way” allows Oates’ captivating voice to shine, and “Shoo Be” exits with a playful spirit via the charming bass, animated scatting, crisp drums and firm keys.

A record with both thoughtful balladry and louder moments of dynamic song craft, Oates can pen a song you won’t soon forget, and there’s 13 here rooted in folk, blues, jazz and Americana to enjoy.

Travels well with: Claudia Gibson- The Fields Of Chazy; Ben Gage- Two Singing Songs

Tegan And Sara

Hey, I’m Just Like You

Sire, 2019

9/10

Listen to Hey, I’m Just Like You

The sibling sensations return with a 9th studio album that brings tunes they penned between the ages of 15-17 to life and reinvents them with their professional musician status and well versed studio skills.

“Hold My Breath Until I Die” starts the listen and isn’t as dramatic as the title implies, as the firm beat, guitar strumming and indie-pop template draw us in quick, and "Hey, I’m Just Like You” follows with soaring melodies and a playful spirit that they’ve built their careers on.

In the middle, “Hello I’m Right Here” offers piano balladry with pretty vocals, while “I Don’t Owe You Anything” builds into full electro-pop, though it’s an anomaly on this collection as much of the record goes back to their guitar focused approach and early punk roots.

Near the end, “We Don’t Have Fun When We’re Together Anymore” moves with a driving pace and strong musicianship that made the duo a household name, and “You Go Away And I Don’t Mind” recruits a modern emo influence into the vibrant pop appeal that’s tailor made for the club. “All I Have To Give The World Is Me” ends the listen with gorgeous, lush sounds that prove that these women were already writing great songs at the onset of high school.

As you can tell by the song titles, there’s certainly an adolescent spirit here, but their present day world class skill dresses the tunes up nicely, and, as always, doesn’t sit comfortably in just one genre.

If you’ve been following all along, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with this batch, and if you’re just checking to see what all the fuss is about, well, these are absolutely musicians who warrant all the attention.

Travels well with: Rilo Kiley-More Adventurous; Tancred- Nightstand