Trampled by Turtles – Life is Good on the Open Road – Banjodad

FourScore

By Kristi Kates | June 16, 2018

All six members of TBT took a trek out to a cabin in the woods of Minnesosta to construct this album, which leans heavily on their bluegrass roots and doesn’t really make any strides towards growth or change. Their fans are more than likely fine with that, as they’re of a different audience segment than say, that of the Avett Brothers, so these reassuring sounds are exactly that; but the stoic same-old-same-old of tracks like “The Middle” and “I Went to Hollywood” just mean that they’re keeping their fans at the status quo. **

The Sea and Cake – Any Day – Thrill Jockey
Guitars weave and bob like miniature boxers throughout The Sea and Cake’s songs, a thread that they’ve pulled across all of their eleven albums; floating on top you’ll find delicate melodies and subtle arrangements that draw the ear in in layers. The Chicago band is back in fine form for this set, from the calm, even progression of the arresting “Paper Window” with its hushed cymbals to the jazz flourishes of “Day Moon” and the carefully messy stanzas of the uber-catchy single “I Should Care.” *** ½

Damien Jurado – The Horizon Just Laughed – Secretly Canadian
Jurado shares a remarkable amount of detail with listeners on his latest collection of songs, which is simultaneously a very personal effort, and also one in which he outlines a series of characters to shuffle across additional storylines. It’s his first self-produced set, so perhaps why he invites these “others” along with him for the trek; either way, they make for striking presences in this collection of acoustic folk-rock, from the soulful vibe that welcomes in “Dear Thomas Wolfe” to the namesake bandleader in “Percy Faith.” ***

Horse Feathers – Appreciation – Kill Rock Stars
Indie folk outfit Horse Feathers, fronted by singer Justin Ringle, get soulful on their latest collection of tracks, their fifth album and perhaps the one on which they’ve shown the most growth. It’s still rooted in the folk sound that they started with; but unlike the static un-movement of TBT (see above) Horse Feathers seem to be reaching outward, seeking more upbeat elements to add a touch of glamour to tracks like “Don’t Mean to Pry” with its whirling violins, “Evictions” with its dancefloor four-beat, and “On the Rise” with its self-assured melody. ***