Love as Laughter
Holy
Red Ink
Holy starts off sounding like just a voice and an acoustic guitar, but just over one minute into the title track, drums and piano begin to trickle in. The soul is undeniable, and the song slowly builds up as it plays on. At first listen, it might sound like someone borrowed Pinback’s lead singer Robert Rulon Crow Jr. and coupled him with a subdued version of My Morning Jacket. But if that were the case, the hint of rockabilly and blues guitar (see “Crosseyed Beautiful Youngunz”), hints of southern rock lyrics and rhythms (“Cleaning Man”), and darker, echoing vigilance (“Bonnie and Clyde” and “Icarus”) wouldn’t sound as rich and endearing as they truly are. The versatility might be a credit to producer Joe Blaney (who has worked with Keith Richards, Tom Waits, and The Clash), but some credit must be given to the band itself. Their stuff is by far the most moving thing coming out of Brooklyn right now.
