Ode to J. Smith (2008)

These Scots made their name with pretty songs about falling rain and flowers in the window. Yet on this speedily recorded disc, they take a surprising turn for the loud and fuzzy. The music crackles with an energy Travis haven’t mustered in years, but the typically lightweight tunes don't always justify the newfound tonnage, which makes Ode to J. Smith wear thin on repeat listens. A sharp but short-lived shock to the system. B–

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