Though Kate Tucker has remained a constant fixture in this band, since her move from Seattle to Nashville, The Sons Of Sweden has changed, as Tucker has picked up an entirely new backing band. The first version of her band was quite successful. Their debut self-titled album produced a single that charted and got the band time on network television shows. Tucker herself actually took up acting later on just before the second version of her band was assembled.

“Hangover” starts off this sophomore album with angelic vocals over shimmering indie rock where Tucker equates drugs with lust. “Give Up The Ghost” follows and is more beat driven, and keeps the beauty high, albeit with a forceful side and some experimental electronica near the end. “Looking Around” shows a more restrained side with a calmer tone, and that extends into “Let Me Go” which lays out a moody atmosphere.

The second half of the disc starts out giant with the alt-rocker “Big Idea” and the hypnotic fun of “Wide Open Plain.” “Best Friend's Love” is one of the gentlest moments included, a lovely, lush and introspective gem. This goes into one of the most direct tunes, as “Blue Hotel” is the sort of catchy rocker that could easily be a break out hit for the band. Near the end of the disc, “The State I'm In” brings the acoustic ballad and highlights Tucker's breathy vocals. While it's somewhat cliché for an album of this nature to place the acoustic track at the end, it's just so well done that we'll forgive them. The album closes on “Islands Of The Misfits,” an most abstract song with keys as its vital feature; this track soars and radiates so much grace and beauty, it really does put the exclamation point on the many highlights to be found in the preceding nine songs.

Rating: A-

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