I know several people that consider this the best album of 2003. This is the debut LP from the Portland band. What we have here are lush, atmospheric, folk songs that find a great deal of depth. Instrumentation is centered around gentle acoustic guitar, piano, and cello. The “atmospheric” component comes through the despondent Drakish vocals that fall into warm harmonies and a simple organ/synthesizer line that echoes or replaces the cello. You might call it a “chill” album. The songs are stories, some better than others. Most stirring in these stories is their dark undercurrent, reminiscent of Springsteen’s Nebraska. Track 8 “Hannibal, MO” is about his guilt over his true love drowning in a river. Highly recommended. Matt M.

Play this song*
1. *Down-tempo – lots of cello – picked guitar and no percussion
2. *Mid-tempo – lots of pretty piano fills pull phrases together – nice rhythm. As a smalltown Midwesterner, I identify with the “Don’t let me settle down in a small northern town to die.”
3. Down-tempo – lots of organ/synth – this one uses gambling as a metaphor for a relationship.
4. Mid-tempo – has a jazzy-slightly-off-kilter piano fill in the chorus – the strong synthesizer base line is interesting as well.
5. Down-tempo – more like a eerie country song than others.
6. *Mid-tempo – I like this song – he does nice things with the melody. It is a destructive song about friendship. Nice line: “my friends are bullets that I shot at tin cans”
7. Down-tempo – This is more dreamy and wispy – full band – dragging rhythm. 5:50.
8. **Down-tempo - Yes! Drowning in river – Mark Twain – Depressing – Play it! I like how he lets us know that the girl was to go study writing on the east coast while he fixes air conditioners and heating pumps. Love over Class!
9. Down-tempo – Lap-steel and mandolin! gentle country/folk guitar rhythm.