A five-piece largely acoustic
alt-country
band from San Francisco,
Axton Kincaid
break few rules on their debut album. Even the one cover, a startlingly good and stylistically effective reworking of
the Stone Roses
'
Madchester
classic
"I Wanna Be Adored,"
is a perfect fit in the
bluegrass
-up-an-unexpected-
rock
-standard category of covers. But while
might not be covering new ground on
Songs from the Pine Room
, they do what they do quite well. The linchpin of the band is
singer/songwriter
Kate Howser
, whose tradition-minded songs and lovely lead vocals are embroidered by the band's unfussy musical interplay and the gorgeous close harmonies of mandolinist
Jen Daunt
(
Howser
's bandmate in a long run of minor Bay Area indie outfits) and pedal steel player
Mac Martine
. Comparisons to
Freakwater
and
the Be Good Tanyas
, among other low-key acts with twangy tunes and female vocalists, are perhaps inevitable, but the lovely harmonies,
's catchy tunes, and the overall sense of summery languor make
a most entertaining listen. ~ Stewart Mason