Wye Oak - Civilian (2011)

Tex says: I came across Wye Oak's 2009 album, The Knot on a Most-Underrated-Of-The-Year list. The talented duo of Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack make a lot of sound for two people, with Wasner strumming and belting while Stack covers both bass and drums simultaneously. Together they create powerful, noisy, folk-tinged rock songs that are entrancing and interesting. The Knot certainly grabbed my attention, and their 2010 EP, My Neighbor/ My Creator, cemented them as a band I'd be watching closely. I got the chance to preview their newest effort Civilian this week, and at first listen or two, I was a bit disappointed. From their sound on last year's EP, I was kind of expecting some more up-tempo songs, which Civilian does not provide. However, I found myself compelled to play it again... and again... and now my play count for the week is 8 times. I'm now hearing a lot more complexity than I initially did, in both instrumentation and song-writing. Wasner's vocal character continues to deepen and expand with each new song I hear from them, and I can't get her voice out of my head. It's a wonderful kind of haunting. Let Wye Oak in and they'll find a place in your head to set up shop.