McCombs seems to have gone through something of a transformation. He still sings about hospitals (Lionkiller) and does that ululating voice thing à la Morrissey but this is, whisper it, an upbeat, accessible album.
Fans of Josh Ritter or Brendan Benson will find a lot to like – though he’s not as mainstream as either. Rich and beautifully crafted, the charm is that it’s hard to pin down. Deseret starts psych and ends up like the Rawhide theme; Crick in my Neck is pure alt-pop; Windfall even goes a bit Celtic. As lyrically deft as ever, McCombs sings “Greyness evolves into a spectrum of colour” on Morning Shadows, the perfect image for an album whose warm, life-affirming pulse is a surprise and delight.
(Domino)