The Dreadful Yawns - Rest

Filtering delicate vocal textures reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel through alt-country sounds and spacious folk landscapes that reference The Byrds, Elliott Smith and Wilco at times, Cleveland quintet The Dreadful Yawns achieve a sound which is instantly engaging yet multifaceted, familiar yet relevant. On their third album, the band's current incarnation produce a number of blissfully memorable moments. Just try not to get swept up in the winning folk shuffle of album opener "You've Been Recorded", the country-tinged splendor of Gram Parsons cover "November Nights" or the four minutes of beautifully cascading "la's" which close "Candles." In fact, I dare you not to be carried away completely in the charm and craft of the entire album; Rest is the portrait of a band firing on all cylinders and with a little luck (or any justice), this gem of an independent album will find the hearing it deserves. [www.myspace.com]