It's a beautiful thing to know that is still alive and well in the kingdom of . 's third full-length effort, and first for the / venture label, is a step beyond the band's work for . While the gorgeous amalgam of 's vision of and 's blend of are everywhere present, there is a new textural awareness evident on ' songwriting is tighter in structure, but his production sensibility is early-'70s Laurel Canyon, with some of 's tropes as well. Sounds like a mess, doesn't it? Well, it's not. Wearing your influences on your sleeve doesn't mean unoriginality. is an original songwriter; he has worked hard to develop the gifts inherent in his lyric concerns and his ability to paint emotional landscapes with his melodies, and the payoff has never been greater. with its ambience and melody -- complete with fuzzed-out guitar solo -- is far more imaginative than anything ever pulled off by trying the same thing (which they do over and over ad nauseam). with its biting Telecaster lead line that echoes ' majesty, is full of warmth, depth, and 's soul. And which is the third track in this opening triad, brings ' love of into the light. But all of these elements of construction are read through ' Kentucky and his unique melodic gift, where fragments becomes entire lines become songs with stunning bridges, achingly poetic lyrics, and a country boy's sense of whacked-out humor and tenderness (check out ). The horn arrangements on make the shuffle into a near tune with an stroll through a shambolic rhythm track. In all, may be a journey through the past, but it's also a solid step into something has been missing for an awfully long time in the mainstream arena: melody, extremely catchy and well-written songs that aren't afraid of the mainstream, and a love of the great continuum that translates into something new. ~ Thom Jurek