Red River, The

Simple, gorgeous, contemplative pop. The arrangements and production are consistently fantastic; most tracks start out with a simple riff, and by the finish you realize five or so more instruments have creeped in. Refreshingly unpretentious, doesn't take itself too seriously; it's kind of like a less breathily ambitious Sufjan Stevens meets Bon Iver meets Joni Mitchell. FCC safe, all tracks recommended. My picks: 2, 8, 5

1 - (4:22) slow, simple, pretty; acoustic instruments and plain, straightforward vocals
**2 - (3:27) great electronic instrumentation under a folky, serene number
3 - (4:09) cool toy-keyboard-drum-kit, fleshed out by lots else, and intimate vox
4 - (3:56) rock beat and horns in an upbeat pop number
**5 - (2:29) slow, with a striking guitar sound, a brief choir and whistling
6 - (6:41) really slow, kind of a Bon Iver feel - "the first time I fell in love"
*7 - (3:01) driving, dynamic, nostalgic; lots of strings
**8 - (3:43) freak-folk; sounds like recent Animal Collective; cool percussion, sing-songy
*9 - (4:34) indie-folk slow-dance ballad; subtle ambient sounds and great piano/horns
*10 - (2:56) touching, determined Mountain Goats pop with the album's most striking lyrics