Old Canes - Earling Morning Hymns

The Appleseed Cast's frontman Christopher Crisci leads Old Canes--his foray into the land of fuzzy, folky indie rock. I won't use comparisons to his former band, merely because honestly, they're a band for whom I've never had interest. Early Morning Hymns brings to mind Neutral Milk Hotel, first and foremost, minus the entirely abstract lyrics. The eclectic use of instruments, including banjos, harmonicas, cellos, bells, and brass set the record's atmosphere, evoking thoughts of the back porch during the closing days of summer somewhere below the Mason-Dixon Line. Crisci gives his voice a bit of a drawl, but not much, lending to the album's mood. "Taxi on Vermont" is the biggest nod to Jeff Mangum, with its horn interjections, while "The Song Was Right" contains an underlying riff that reminded me of XTC's "Love on a Farmboy's Wages." Crisci leans more towards a country style as the end of the record draws near with "One Day." I'm lost on what to say here; this record is better than a lot I've heard of late, but it's not intensely gratifying. It doesn't leave the listener yearning for more, yet it's still enjoyable and worth hearing at least once. [www.oldcanes.com]