The subtle melancholy of their previous album is now a driving force but now packaged with 60s folk adoration, as shown with the apparent inspirations from Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Cosby, Stills and Nash. The song Lorelai being so akin to Dylans 4th Time Around it almost sounds like a cover, but an excellent one at that, with grander more energetic instrumentation and dynamic vocal passages. But, this is much of the appeal of Helplessness Blues, the ability to borrow the best moments of folk music and translate them into grander, chamber pop songs with enough experimentation and lyrical substance to engage modern listeners. As a band they really show their resiliency, being able to switch effortlessly between grander and more intimate songs while maintaining cohesion in a story of life, loss and love. The vocal harmonizations and instrumental landscapes remain warmer and even more rustic, and the lyrical content is more focused with contrasts of warmth and optimism with an overbearing sadness. The ethos of the album leaves an impression and the album is without a doubt one of the best in its class in recent decades.
Best Tracks: Montezuma*, Bedouin Dress, Sim Sala Bim, Battery Kinzie*, The Plains/ Bitter Dancer, Helplessness Blues*, The Cascades, Lorelai*, Someone You'd Admire*, The Shrine/ An Argument, Blue Spotted Tail*, Grown Ocean
S
Earthy Vibes/Chamber Folk/ Folk Pop
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