Indie folk. The combination of acoustic guitar, flute, and melodica is a little strange to my ears, and this is why I think it deserves the “indie” tag because I’m sure that the band thinks that this is ‘cool’ and ‘interesting’ and a selling point. I’m still convinced it is a decision for the worst, (I just sounds so much like “easy listening” or a Renaissance fair at times) but if it doesn’t bother you too much, go ahead and play this. Lead vocalist is male and sounds a little like John Darnielle (Mountain Goats). Production is neither lo-fi nor slick. Songs tend to be sentimental, simplistic, solemn, slow, and melodic, but not warm. Play this with a broken heart in autumn. Only a couple of steps removed from you and your friends jamming together, this is reminiscent of some band playing your local coffee shop at 7pm on a Thursday night. FCC clean.

*1. Slow; strumming guitar with a little tambourine, flute comes in and melodica a little later. Simple melody, builds to a sad, strong climax with backing vocals. (5:40)
2. Structure is a little disjointed, but it settles on a folk groove a couple minutes in. (5:08)
3. Lots of flute to start, lyrics about football? Nice modest melody in here. (3:20)
4. I think the flute ruins this track. More steady folk guitar and nice backing vocals, and lyrics are memorable on this one. (4:55)
*5. Brooding, slow start. Atmospherics come in and song builds in intensity. “We need to be free and wild” is repeated. (5:19)
6. Guitar part is charming, but flute ruins this one! Melodica does some cool stuff but the flute is so annoying. (3:32)
7. Handclaps, tambourine, and upbeat, but I don’t like it. Poppy for sure, but that doesn’t make it good. (3:30)
8. Reminds me of Jack Johnson in the worst possible way. Better than 7 but still skip. (2:52)
9. Very fast and poppy again. Boo. Oh my… reminds me of Spongebob Squarepants with the choruses spelling out words… Avoid…does a Michael Stipe “End of the World As We Know It” imitation too! I’m about to recommend this for the sake of novelty. (2:35)
10. Slow again; a bit better. Builds nicely with minimal flute, modest guitar, and great melodica. (4:53)
*11. Crawlingly slow with pretty guitar. This track is sentimental and subtle, but emotional. (5:40)
12. This is another sad, slow, serious one. Grainy sample comes in with flute and melodica late in the track. (5:31)