Girls Can Tell

Time may not exactly heal all wounds, but it can lend the perspective and strength to channel pain into something positive. Such is the case with ; their perennial underdog status and disastrous stint on have focused and tempered the trio's brash energy instead of crushing it. Their third full-length, , reflects the group's lean, hungry stance in its spare, spiky, immaculately crafted songs. and take 's smart, bouncy, slightly tough signature sound to another level; while the ghosts of , , and still haunt songs like 's sharp wordplay, barbed guitars, and appealingly raw vocals prove that the group embraces their influences without becoming slaves to them. 's increasingly eclectic and expansive songwriting comes to the forefront on a taut, brooding song driven by vibes, keyboards, yearning, and pride; suggests the direction / should have taken after 's implosion. This album is also 's most emotionally eclectic collection of songs, ranging from a sunny song drawn with just a few artfully placed strokes to a brooding, slightly psychedelic piece of that recalls 's side project. an appropriately tense, filmic instrumental, and a slightly spooky song with winding guitars and an off-kilter melody, complete , making it 's most mature, accomplished work to date and a fine balance of fire and polish. ~ Heather Phares