Great alternative country! Very folky, singer-songwriterly along the lines of older Wilco, Nick Drake, Alejandro Escovedo, and the Jayhawks. The music is very gentle and sweet. The instrumentation is for the most part pretty spare withjust acoustic guitar, bass, and brushed drums, but there are some touches of '70's country rock and chamber pop (along the lines of Alejandro Escovedo). Lead singer Al James's thin voice and sincere delivery is reminiscent of Jeff Tweedy on _Being There_. The lyrics are something else all together There are songs are about suicide, violence, and dangerous codependency. Listen and before long, you'll be singing along to something frightening. No FCCs. Stand-out tracks: 3, 5, 4, 7.

1. strumming, midtempo, shambling about religion
2. slower, dark, foreboding, spare
==> 3. sweet, suicide-pact love song with syrupy strings, "Baby, let's die at the same time."
==> 4. great lyrics, creepy song of dedication, holding on to a lover's belongings
==> 5. midtempo, very '70's country-rock, pedal steel, going back to a dangerous lover
6. swaggering acoustic/electric rock, Jayhawks anyone?
==> 7. very pretty with strings, withering break-up song to a cheating girlfriend, "I believe in second chances for everyone but you"
8. spare, gentle. apparently very violent. religious
9. Nick Drakish finger-picking, intricate, pretty. unrequited love

Eric K!