Sound: Jangly, angular guitar rock of The Strokes and Television meets Southern twang and stomp
Notes: Produced by Ethan Johns, who’s also produced Ryan Adams, Counting Crows, The Jayhawks, Rufus Wainwright and Kings of Leon’s debut album
Heavy Rotation track: “The Bucket“
Medium Rotation tracks: “Razz“; “Soft“; “Day Old Blues“
Listen when: It’s time for a good ‘ol urban hoedown
Recommended: If you loved their first album (see Youth and Young Manhood, my #3 album of 2003), you’ll wonder where all the great hooks went. Plus, touring the world has taken some of the backwoods out of them. Still fun, but missing the raw and snappy goodness of their debut. The second half is better than the first.
Grade: B-

(As posted 3/7/05 on davepowersmusic.com)
Buy CD/Listen to Tracks