War Poems, We Rested

's and started work on their second album just before the COVID-19 global pandemic hit, then refined it while they worked on other projects during quarantines and lockdowns ( toured with ; recorded other bands at his Candyland studio). This hurry-up-and-wait creative process gives them the best of both worlds on : The duo holds onto 's fun and spontaneity and expands on its blend of indie, post-rock, and Americana with confidence and creativity. Just how much expanded their dynamic and dramatic range is immediately apparent on 's bookends. Vibraphonist gives the indie noir of opening track "Still Life" an extra dash of intrigue as sighs, "All I want is a cigarette/And someone to pay the rent" with a rumpled sultriness. sends off the album with "War Poems," which weaves 's vibes and 's cello into a homey version of post-rock that's equally cosmic and cozy. In between these songs, find other fresh expressions of the sweetness and grit that made so winning. 's work with made her one of the architects of the fuzzy, chugging, 1990s rock that legions of 21st century bands try to recapture, but the standouts "Hug" and "Cartoon Heart/Build Me a Question" underscore that her charisma is inimitable. / drummer proves she's an integral part of the project on , whether she's filling up the room on "Stole Eye"'s quintessential heartland indie rock or crafting a slyly sexy backdrop on "Def Sup" that embellish with low-slung synths and fractured guitars. It's easy to take these quicksilver shifts in stride thanks to 's more expressive songwriting, another area where the time they spent tinkering paid off. The poignant warmth of "Embers on a Sleepwalk" calls to mind prime with its rickety piano melody and the creak in 's voice, and when he asks "shouldn't you reach for me when you feel hollow?" on "Lighter Than a Berry," it's a haunting reminder that the cracks in a relationship can't always be repaired. Given 's pedigree and the potential they showed on , it's not exactly surprising how good is, but its mix of down-to-earth rock and artful sonics is still a somewhat unexpected delight. ~ Heather Phares