Esbe

La Serenissima

New Cat, 2024

9/10

Listen to La Serenissima

The 9th album from the esteemed vocalist Esbe, the 11 tracks here are inspired by Venice and are full of melodic and clever gestures.

The mysterious and warm “Amarilli, Mia Bella” starts the listen with Esbe’s gorgeous voice giving the classic love song much richness, and the title track follows with the sublime waltz unfolding with well timed percussion and textured voices.

Further along, “Victory Pageant” showcases the intimate strings amid Esbe’s stunning vocal acrobatics, while “Shadow” welcomes ambience to the creative landscape that brings to mind an ominous, bubbling sea.

Landing near the end, “Palazzo” carries an orchestral mood of beauty and emotive sensibilities that’s sung in Turkish, and “La Serenissima Remembered” exits with medieval harmonies that come with a very ethereal backdrop.

The production here is top notch and the delivery flawless, as Esbe’s voice and production talents are accented by light electronica and gorgeous bassoon and piano, too.

Travels well with: Roopa Panesar- ATMA; Koum Tara- Baraaim El-Louz

Midnite Hellion

Kingdom Immortal

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Kingdom Immortal

The powerful New Jersey trio, Midnite Hellion, bring their hard hitting formula to these 8 riff filled tracks that explore thrash and ‘80s metal.

“H.M.O.” starts the listen with Charles Koegler’s charged guitars that give the listen a dense and throbbing climate of mosh-metal, and “She-Demon” follows with Drew Rizzo’s hard hitting drumming that illuminates the abrasive yet still tuneful delivery.

“Rapscallion” occupies the middle spot, and showcases Rich Kubik’s distinct singing alongside the thick rhythm section of the grungy delivery, while “Speed Demon” is indeed a swift and scrappy album highlight that comes with a catchy chorus.

“Army Of The Dead” and “In Sickness And In Hell” exit the listen, where the former makes great use of Kubik’s striking bass amid the animated guitar and agile drumming, and the latter hints at some grooves, as melodic textures complement the memorable singing.

Midnite Hellion got underway in 2011, and this 2022 album struck a cord with fans of straight ahead metal that’s never short on searing guitars, sturdy drums and bouts of blues nods.

Travels well with: Ribozyme- Celestial Low; Strange Horizon- Skur 14

Josh Fortenbery

No Such Thing As Forever

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to No Such Thing As Forever

The Alaskan singer-songwriter Josh Fortenbery makes a sizable impression on this debut album, where country, folk, and bluegrass ideas unfold across topics like self-doubt, anxiety and family dynamics.

The flowing acoustic guitar and warm vocals of “Bitter” starts the listen with Lindsay Clark’s inviting fiddle adding to the emotive landscape, and “Siblings” follows with Juslin’s Smith ‘s agile slide guitar amid Fortenbery’s vivid storytelling in the timeless folk climate.

Further along, “Sewing The Same Seam” uses Andrew Heist’s radiant mandolin for a more bluegrass steered delivery, while “Heirlooms” is highly intimate, where Fortenbery’s poetic pipes are met with stirring strings.

Landing near the end, “As One Does” brings intricate guitar playing to the melodic album highlight, and “Another Existential Crisis” exits with James Cheng’s well timed bass complementing the soaring backing vocals from Taylor Vidie and Erin Heist.

All the musicians on hand are from Alaska, too, and they help cultivate a forthright and relatable first album that’s lyrically just as well thought out as it is musically.

Travels well with: Buxton- A Family Light; Natalie Price- Natalie Price

George Nazos

Waves

Street Of Stars, 2023

9/10

Listen to Waves

The Athens, Greece native and current NYC artist George Nazos brings his guitar playing and composing skils to these 8 jazz fusion tracks that welcome Trifon Dimitrov, Joe Abba and Tamuz Nissim.

The stylish atmosphere of “City Blues” opens the listen with Abba’s frisky drums complementing the soft guitar lines that create a distinct dreaminess, and “Welcome Home” follows with Dimitrov’s well timed bass plucking that suits Nazos’ meticulous finger acrobatics.

“Jaffa” and “Summer Dreams” land in the middle, where the former carries a mesmerizing demeanor of beauty and grace, while the latter welcomes Nissim’s stunning voice to the cautious and crisp album highlight.

Close to the end, “At Liam’s” comes with a cinematic quality that benefits from the playful guitar, restrained drums and skilled bass, and the title track exits with Nazos’ fascinating guitar playing front and center.

This is Nazos’ 3rd album, and it continues his profound attention to detail and superb nylon string guitar prowess that we could never tire of.

Travels well with: Tamuz Nissim- While Birds Fly; George Nazos- Σymposium for Peace

Tamuz Nissim

While Birds Fly

Street Of Stars, 2023

9/10

Listen to While Birds Fly

The Tel Aviv vocalist Tamuz Nissim returns with 10 new tracks, where help from George Nazos, Trifon Dimitrov and Joe Abba help create much diversity and warmth.

Nissim’s warm keys start the listen with the pretty and soft “Prelude”, and “Lonely River” follows with Nissim’s expressive pipes amid Abba’s agile drumming for the timeless jazz climate.

“Breathe” arrives at the halfway point, and is a rich delivery of gorgeous singing that suits the atmospheric bass and Nazos’ fluid guitar, while “Here We Go Again” benefits much from the meticulous drumming and graceful piano.

“Poets” and “A Voice” exit the listen, where the former is an intimate exploration into rich and poetic song craft, and the latter finishes with a dreamy, mesmerizing delivery that builds into firm scatting and playful rhythm.

Nissim has been living and performing New York City for the last 5 years, and that experience certainly resonates across these heartfelt and gripping jazz songs that will be globally appreciated.

Travels well with: Tamuz Nissim- Capturing Of Clouds; George Nazos- Σymposium for Peace

James Mastro

Dawn Of A New Error

Mpress, 2024

9/10

Listen to Dawn Of A New Error

The debut album from the Hoboken native and singer-songwriter-guitarist James Mastro, the 9 tracks recruit Ian Hunter, Brian Griffin and Steve Goulding for the roots rock affair.

The blue collar energy of “Right Words, Wrong Song” starts the listen with a hint of grit in Mastro’s voice, as powerful guitar and playful organ complement the mood, and “My God” follows with a calmer approach of soft guitar and poetic singing that comes with much warmth.

Further into the listen, “Everywhere” carries a hint of jangly folk-rock, where the setting builds into more forceful singing, while “Trouble” flows with a charming version of Americana that benefits from reflective storytelling and harmonic backing vocals.

Close to the end, the gospel spirit of “Someday Someone Will Turn Your Head Around” uses call and response vocals amid the rich textures, and “River Runs Forever” exits with meticulous acoustic guitar and a trace of ambience alongside harmonica.

Mastro’s resume includes his early years in The Richard Lloyd Group, more recently playing with Ian Hunter, Patti Smith and Alejandro Escovedo, and this step into the frontman position reminds us of all that we love about Springsteen and Jesse Malin or even The Jayhawks.

Travels well with: Rachael Sage- The Other Side; A Fragile Tomorrow- It’s Better That Way

Adrian Sutherland

Precious Diamonds

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Precious Diamonds

The far north, Canadian artist Adrian Sutherland has fronted Midnight Shine for 3 records now, and this solo venture explores influences like Tom Petty, Neil Young and Bryan Adams.

“Notawe (Father)” starts the listen with warm acoustic guitar and Sutherland’s gentle, cozy voice illuminating the folk filled climate, and “My Rebel Spirit” follows with Colin Linden’s buzzing guitar and Jerry Roe’s agile drumming making for a more rugged approach.

“Diamonds” occupies the middle spot, and radiates much melody thanks to Linden’s glowing guitar, John Dymond’s skilled bass and Sutherland’s expressive pipes, while “The Storm” is a more intimate moment of sublime balladry that showcases an impressive range from Sutherland amid Janice Powers’ moody organ.

“Let It Shine” and “Precious” exit the listen, where the former touches on timeless folk-rock ideas that welcome well timed harmonica, and the latter carries a thicker presence, as grooves enter a bluesy finish.

This is Sutherland’s 2nd solo album, and he traveled to Nashville to lay down the record. There are a pair of songs in his mother tongue, Cree, and the folk, blues, roots and rock sensibilities continue his sincerity and cultural endeavors with much worldly appeal.

Travels well with: Adrian Sutherland & Midnight Shine- James Bay; The Tragically Hip- Phantom Power

Omar Coleman

Strange Times

Color Red, 2024

8/10

Listen to Strange Times

The Chicago bluesman, Omar Coleman, picked up music as a way to pass the time between barber clients, which turned into a job as a touring musician. These 9 songs were fleshed out with the guidance of Eddie Roberts, who enlisted an all star cast of Color Red collaborators for the funk filled and dance friendly tracks.

“Chicago” gets the listen off to an energetic start, where Coleman’s harmonica is met with thumping drums and playful bass lines that populate the dense grooves, and “Strange Times” follows with spirited guitar and bright brass that complements Coleman’s gritty yet tuneful pipes.

Further along, the rhythmic “Got A Good Man” isn’t lacking any melody amid the rich layers of blues rock, while “You’ve Been Cheatin’” showcases animated horns and crisp drumming that suit the moody keys and Coleman’s howling vocals.

Landing close to the end, “Happy Home” allows Coleman’s radiant harmonic to shine in the textured climate, and the intimate and powerful “I Want You To Have My Child” tugs on the heartstrings with much warmth.

Coleman is joined by Eddie Roberts, Eric Benny Bloom, Dan Africano, Chris Spies, Cole Rudy, Carl Sorensen, Nick Gerlach, Kari Clifton and Adrienne Short for the timeless songs, and it sure does make for a top notch blues listen.

Travels well with: Tim Carman Trio- Key Lime; Marcus Rezak- Guitar Head

Lenny Williams

Chill

Omnivore, 2024

8/10

Listen to Chill

The legendary vocalist Lenny Williams joined Tower Of Power in 1972 and made 2 well received albums with the band before going to back to his solo career. After seeing much success in the ‘70s and ‘80s, his 1994 album, Chill, continued his success and has been out of print on CD for 3 decades- until now.

The title track is placed in the lead off position, where Williams’ soulful pipes are met with Greg Gonaway’s crisp drums and programming from Ira Walker for the timeless R&B flavor, and “Baby, You Caught My Eye” follows with Louis Biancaniello playing all instruments in the melodic and groove filled climate.

Halfway through, the dreamy “Driftin’” welcomes Felton Pilate’s multi-instrumental skills that complements Williams’ strong range of intimacy, while the heartfelt “Has Anybody Seen My Heart” showcases Tim Bell’s soft backing vocals and Sitar from Preston Glass for the powerful and cozy album highlight.

Further along, “Sentimental” benefits from Larry Bastiste’s fluid keys, as Williams’ highly expressive singing draws us in to the emotive mood, and “There’s No Hiding Place” exits with Mike Mani performing all instruments, which touches on hip-hop ideas, too.

This updated version comes with remastering, updated artwork and new liner notes from producer and journalist Kevin L. Goins. Williams is still active today, having released a new album this decade, and this gem from the ‘90s still sounds great 30 years later.

Travels well with: Jackson Browne- Downhill From Everywhere; The Mighty Clouds Of You- Kickin’

The Heart Collectors

The Space Between

Spins The Gold, 2024

8/10

Listen to The Space Between

The 5th album of cosmic tinted folk-pop from the quartet The Heart Collectors, the 13 songs here navigate around nostalgia, heartfelt ideas and plenty of warmth thanks to these Australian’s inviting formula.

The mysterious and nature-esque “Energy” starts the listen with Reuben Loire’s mesmerizing electric guitar alongside Kymrie Henge’s striking vocals populating the cryptic mood, and “Evergreen” follows with Henge’s mature keys and Mobius Barnaby’s cozy upright bass making for a lush, folk-pop climate.

At the halfway point of the formal release, “The Garden” emits a gorgeous intimacy thanks to the hushed singing and sublime bass playing, while “Hold On”, a live in the studio track, displays roots and bluegrass nods thanks to the flowing guitars, hand clapping and harmonic group vocals.

The final track before the bonus material, “Where The Light Rests”, finds a dreamy place to reside amid the twinkling piano and poetic singing, and of the 3 bonus tracks- all of which are live- “Woodstock” showcases the bands ‘70s influences and Tristan Dafoe’s fluid mandolin playing.

Eight of these pieces are brand new, and a pair have been reworked from their 2014 debut. A highly inspirational body of work, there’s even a Paul Simon cover included on the bonus material (“Kathy’s Song”), and it all makes for inviting balladry and fuller, sonically engaging songs that create a memorable, modern folk affair.

Travels well with: Ynana Rose- Under A Cathedral Sky; Leslie Evers- Bound For Land

Ekmeles

We Live The Opposite Daring

New Focus, 2024

8/10

Listen to We Live The Opposite Daring

The Ekmeles vocal ensemble, spearheaded by the director Jeffrey Gavett, bring their distinct vocal prowess to these new works by Zosha Di Castri, James Weeks, Hannah Kendall, Shawn Jaeger and Erin Gee.

Weeks’ “Primo Libro” starts the listen with fluid voices harmonizing amid much warmth and grace, where Gavett’s baritone is especially noteworthy, and “We live the opposite daring”, by Di Castri, follows with Charlotte Mundy’s glowing soprano surrounded by the layered voices that create much atmosphere.

Kendall’s “this is but an oration of loss” arrives in the middle, and presents a unique minimalism that involves both whispered and spoken moments of harmonic gestures, while “love is” offers spoke and sung voices that overlap and build into a powerful conclusion for the Jaeger piece.

Gavett’s “Waves” resides near the end, and blends Elisa Sutherland’s mezzo-soprano, Timothy Parsons’ countertenor and Tomás Cruz’s tenor with much attention to mood in the 3 wordless segments, and Gee’s “Mouthpiece” exits with influence from electronic music, and explores nasal, whistling, breath and plenty of other improvised vocal sounds via the clever finish.

A body of work that takes timbre, pitch and microtonality into careful consideration, Ekmeles flesh out a fascinating and atypical a capella affair.

Travels well with: Yu-Hui Chang- Mind Like Water; Douglas Boyce- The Bird Is An Alphabet

Jack Rubies

Clocks Are Out Of Time

Big Stir, 2023

10/10

Listen to Clocks Are Out Of Time

The first album from the UK post-punk outfit Jack Rubies in over 3 decades, Clocks Are Out Of Time has all the original members on hand for both rhythmic and tense ideas across the 12 tracks.

“Hark” gets the listen off to a collaborative start, where Peter Maxted’s precise drums suit the guest keyboards from Doc Durston for some darker spirited ideas, and “Heaven Shook Me” follows with Steve Brockway’s throbbing bass amid the swirling guitars for both melodic and lush songwriting.

In the middle, Jason Cornock steps up to the drums for a cautious, thumping climate that pays close attention to mood across “Chandelier”, while “Corrupted” welcomes Cat Henry’s backing vocals to the buzzing and charged riffs from SD Ineson.

Landing close to the end, “Shark Attack” spotlights acoustic guitar amid some intimacy, as ruggedness also enters, and “I’ll Give You More” exits with a dreamy demeanor of rich and layered bouts that you can’t not be impressed with.

Ian Wright’s vocals and guitar work is exceptional here, and along with Lawrence Giltnane’s percussion and the rest of the band’s respective talents, this is a triumphant return for a band who go back to the English C86 days and whose ominous grooves and push and pull dynamics are still top notch.

Travels well with: Shplang- Thank You, Valued Customer; The Incurables- Inside Out & Backwards

Chris Mondak

Blank With Colour

Summit, 2023

8/10

Listen to Blank With Colour

The always impressive bassist Chris Mondak brings his funk and jazz vision to these 10 songs, where a lively energy is present thanks to Dan Hitchcock, Gabe Feldman, Jack Macklin and Ryan Brasley’s contributions.

The playful and upbeat “Skunk Funk” starts the listen with Mondak’s agile bass lines amid Hitchcok’s animated sax and Brasley’s proficient drumming, and “Cruel To Be Kind” follows with Macklin’s warm guitar playing that suits the cozy brass of the spirited jazz climate.

“Wake Up” arrives in the middle, and is quite soulful by way of Feldman’s meticulous keys and precise rhythm section, while “Walking In Sunshine” hints are reggae in its relaxed rhythm that could quell anyone’s bad mood.

“With You” and “Everybody Knows” exit the listen, where the former is dreamy and rich via the glowing textures, and the latter focuses much on the graceful keys and strong attention to mood for the well thought out finish.

This is Mondak’s 3rd album, and the 8 originals and 2 covers unfold with sophistication and adventurousness that meet at a very welcoming intersection.

Travels well with: Chris Mondak- Glass Spheres; The Steven Husted Quartet- Standards And Then Some

Will Régnier

Traces

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Traces

The debut from the Montreal drummer, producer and composer Will Régnier, the 9 tracks here present diverse, instrumental sounds, where Marcus Lowry, Yannick Anctil and Alex Le Blanc are all in attendance.

The quick and cautious “Exit” opens the listen with Le Blanc’s soft double bass and Régnier’s skilled drums creating much atmosphere, and this segues into “Lights Out”, where Lowry’s intricate electric guitar is met with Anctil’s well timed keys.

Moving towards the middle, “Whereto” offers a rich and precise interaction between the agile players, while “Smoke And Mirrors” showcases the plucked bass amid the twinkling piano that suit the melodic gestures of the album’s best.

Residing close to the end, “Comme des traces oubliées” places both Lowry and Régnier on acoustic guitar alongside the dancing keys, and “Farewell” exits with a mesmerizing delivery via the hazy guitar, moody keys and crisp drums that carry a progressive feel.

A first album that isn’t short on improvisation, spontaneity and a collaborative vision, there’s a folk storytelling aspect to these songs, and the unpredictable time signatures add even more intrigue.

Travels well with: Casey MacGill- Love Letter; John Herberman- Spring Comes Early

The Northern Belle

Bats In The Attic

Die With Your Boots On, 2024

9/10

Listen to Bats In The Attic

A seminal outfit of the Nordicana scene, The Northern Belle bring Cardigans friendly pop, indie balladry and southern rock ideas to these sometimes cosmic 11 tracks.

The warm, folk fueled acoustic guitar of “Astral Plane” opens the listen with Stine Andreassen’s gorgeous vocals alongside Trym Gjermundbo’s cozy drumming, and “Treat Yourself Better” follows with a crisp and harmonic delivery of breezy melodies and flowing song craft.

Further along, “Stargazer” offers a dreamy moment of hazy melodies, where Andreassen’s rich voice is met with layered guitars, while “Our Own Frequency” welcomes Bjørnar Ekse Brandseth’s glowing pedal steel to the distinct version of Americana that invites an immediate sing-along quality.

Close to the end, “Hell & Back” embraces indie-pop ideas via its sugary sweet delivery, and “Grow Up” exits with a gentle intimacy, where a heartfelt bareness populates the minimal finish.

Also in the band are Johanne Flottorp (hardanger fiddle, harmonies), Ole-André Sjøgren (guitars, harmonies) and Marie Tveiten (guitars, harmonies), and together they’re making a timeless brand of Norwegian Americana that should resonate worldwide.

Travels well with: Bjorn Tomren- Bad Science Fiction; Darling West- Cosmos

Ches Smith

Laugh Ash

Pyroclastic, 2024

10/10

Listen to Laugh Ash

The drummer and composer Ches Smith brings a wealth of diverse influences to these unpredictable 9 tracks that welcome an excellent ensemble for the avant-garde affair.

The rich and mysterious “Minimalism” begins the listen, and injects Shara Lunon’s distinct voice into Smith’s buzzing electronics and the bright winds, and “Remote Convivial” follows with Anna Webber’s flowing flute that complements the adventurous drumming from Smith.

Further along, the textured “Shaken, Stirred Silence” put a unique spin on minimalism, where Shahzad Ismaily’s cozy bass is met with expressive, wordless singing that embraces beats, too, while “The Most Fucked” is an abstract take on electro-pop meets chamber-rock, where plenty of hip-hop ideas reside as well.

Close to the end, “Disco Inferred” focuses much on James Brandon Lewis’ atypical sax bouts, Nate Wooley’s animated trumpet and Oscar Noriega’s clarinet acrobatics for the album’s best, and “Exit Shivers” finishes with an experimental approach to jazz that flirts with doom metal and iconoclastic forms of classical song craft.

Smith handles electronics, programming, vibes, drums, tubular bells, glockenspiel, timpani, tam tam, and metal percussion, and the superb cast he’s with help flesh out this truly unclassifiable listening experience that you’ll be in awe of.

Travels well with: Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio- Jet Black; Aline Homzy- Éclipse

Euclid Quartet

Breve

Afinat, 2024

9/10

Listen to Breve

The always impressive Euclid Quartet return with a sophomore album on the Afinat label, where the 11 single movement pieces all retain their own distinct and rich tone.

Mozart’s “Adagio And Fugue In C Minor, K. 546” starts the listen with Jameson Cooper and Aviva Hakanoglu’s stirring violins alongside Luis Enrique Vargas’ stirring viola for the firm versus bare moments, and “Metro Chabacano”, by Javier Alvarez, follows with swift and bright string interaction that welcomes Brendan Shea’s animated violin.

Further along, the warm and intimate William Bolcom track, “Graceful Ghost Rag”, comes with plenty of emotion and beauty, especially from Justin Goldsmith’s cello, while Gershwin’s “Lullaby” emits stunning and uplifting dynamics between the quartet’s inimitable playing.

Arriving near the end, “Langsamer Satz”, by Anton Webern, recruits Jacqueline Choi’s gripping cello that complements the sweeping strings and strong attention to mood, and Joaquin Turina’s “La Oración del Torero, Op. 34” exits with gripping, textured string manipulation that tugs on the heartstrings.

A outfit who are celebrating 25 years together, the selections here span 3 centuries, have accompanied the Euclid Quartet across their entire journey, and are flawlessly executed in their timeless and articulate chamber vision.

Travels well with: Boston Modern Orchestra Project- Joan Tower Piano Concerto- Homage To Beethoven; Olivia Pérez-Collellmir- Olivia

The Steven Husted Quartet

Standards And Then Some

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Standards And Then Some

The bassist and composer Steven Husted brings along Dayna Stephens, Damian Garcia and Israel Yanez for this 3rd release as bandleader, where a return to his acoustic jazz roots sure is appreciated.

“It’s You Or No One” opens the listen with Yanez’s fluid drumming and Stephens’ glowing sax complementing Husted’s skilled bass plucking, and “Brainteaser” follows with a calm approach of graceful keys from Garcia, as soft melodies enter the cautious landscape.

In the middle, “Dena’s Lullabye” showcases the meticulous bass amid soulful brass, while “Sno’ Peas is a rich and colorful album highlight that benefits much from the dancing keys and skilled sax that suit Husted’s strategic bass prowess. The final track, “Normandie Gardens”, starts with an intimate, dreamy mood, where all the players demonstrate their respective talents via the thoughtful textures.

The standards and originals blend together seamlessly here, as Husted and company create the sort of jazz that will always be in demand and admired.

Travels well with: Peter Jonatan- Psalms Symphony; John Ellis Quartet- Bizet: Carmen In Jazz

Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

Tidal Currents: East Meets West

Chronograph, 2024

8/10

Listen to Tidal Currents: East Meets West

The first community based, non-profit, professional jazz ensemble in Canada, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra return with a 7th release, where commissions from Jill Townsend and Christine Jensen- two of the country’s finest in the area of Big Band jazz- spans out across 4 tracks.

“Inside The Wave” starts the listen with strong attention to mood, where Matthew Walden’s bright trumpet and Fabio Ragnelli’s meticulous drum highlight the soaring sounds that surround the west coast and oceans of Sooke, B.C., and “Crossing Lachine” follows with Niall Cade’s radiant tenor sax complementing the dynamic interaction of the Jensen piece that’s inspired by her love of paddle boarding.

The back half of the listen brings us Will Boness’ piano, Karl Kohut’s bass, Ragnelli’s drums and muted brass for the most intimate selection that makes great use of Jensen’s glowing soprano sax, while “Rock Skipping Under Half Moon” recruits plenty of mystery and beauty that touches on Jensens’s younger years skipping rocks, where the waltz builds into a textured and dizzying finish.

A very intricate listen that’s rooted in nature, the WJO bring a wealth of brass to this unpredictable and memorable listen that’s as creative as it is timeless.

Travels well with: Casey MacGill- Love Letter; John Herberman- Spring Comes Early

The Rightly So

Vanduro

Self-Released, 2019

10/10

Listen to Vanduro

A duo from Buffalo, New York who live in their homemade RV and crisscross America playing shows along the way, Greg Zeis and Jess Chizuk tell us stories of life on road, both the highs and lows, on this charming, wise 2nd album.

“Black And Blue” starts the listen with easy going acoustic strumming and expressive vocals that resonate like timeless folk music, and “You Can Bet On Me” follows with a more rugged approach to their back to basics prowess as Jess Chizuk’s pretty vocals soar amid a crunchy back drop.

A record where every tune is a stand out, “All These Things” recruits a country spirit in its fluid and swift delivery, while “Dying Day” flows with a warm Americana spirit that will bring you back to the best days of Whiskeytown. "Nothing But The Weather” one of the best of the best, glides with a campfire-esque feeling where organs relly add to the atmosphere that details the downside of the pair’s nomadic life.

Near the end, “The Lucky Ones” plug in the guitar for a more forceful version of their cautions approach, and “Not Coming Home” ends the listen on a vocally harmonic and strong exit of rural beauty.

Though there’s no shortage of outfits playing this kind of alt-country meet Americana, The Rightly So do it much better than most of their peers, and this sophomore LP is certainly a contender for record of the year.

Travels well with: Blind Pilot- 3 Rounds And A Sound; The Lumineers- The Lumineers