The Shaky Hands It comes down to writing unpolished-yet-expansive little rock gems that flow as naturally as they were likely written. The Portland, Ore., quartet's songbook is filled with upbeat guitar numbers as well as reflective and mellow tracks, that's especially illuminated on their recent recording, Let It Die, on the killer indie label, Kill Rock Stars. This is brainy stuff with a surprising '60s folk feel. With U.S. Royalty and Foxchase. Milestone
Slaid Cleaves The somber recent disc Everything You Love Will be Taken Away is a rolling, jazzy acoustic folk affair with a distinct Texas country twang. Cleaves turns stories into songs, sung with a narrative vibe and filled with characters that could be next-door, everyday folk. Can't complain if horrormeister Stephen King is a fan and writes the liner notes for your album, either. The Evening Muse