, ' second release, finds the band continuing in the vein of their first effort; this is rustic, cerebral, ramshackle music. You could call it beard rock -- it's the kind of backwoods, wild-poet-of-the-mountain sound that nods to , and . What makes just a touch different lies in how manipulative their songs can be, which is just to say that there are times when is exhilarating. what with its stormy percussion and piano chords, and its blocky guitar riffs (so carefully amplified, it almost sounds like frontman is punching the strings), is, in its twine-rough, woodsy way, simply electrifying. Moments like this make it clear that are able to capture that certain, heart-snagging something -- it's the kind of thing that brings to mind 's best moments. really are at their best when they call up this quietly fiery side of their sound. 's wordless chorus (a series of triumphant oh's) shouldn't be as convincingly uplifting as it is -- but it is, and it's a testament to ' creative chemistry and pop sensibilities. only runs into trouble when get a little too introspective; some of the slow, meandering tracks here tend to get muddily dirge-like ( ). But this is a small issue in the wake of all the twisting, strange-hearted stuff this disc has to offer. Those who weren't so sure about before might change their tune with this release -- is a luminous, wild-eyed affair, and a solid second album to boot. ~ Margaret Reges