The Shaky Hands

Let It Die

(Kill Rock Stars)

Let It Die starts it off a bit Elvis Costello (hell, there's even a song title with the name "Allison" in it: "Allison and the Ancient Eyes”) and ends up a bit Tom Petty, or maybe it phases somewhere between the two without the listener being able to pinpoint exactly where Nick Dellf's voice is on the vocal spectrum. At any rate, this album clearly knows where it comes from and knows where it's going. Being influenced by roots rock with a slight touch of bubblegum, listening to Let It Die goes down like a frosty tall glass of root beer.

The guitars simultaneously strum (acoustic) and hum (electric) without any sense of one overpowering the other. Standout tracks: "Let It Die," "Love Curse" (the bass line will be in your head all week), "All You Recall" (nice nod to the Rolling Stones in the guitar hook), and "Leave it All." In summation, the whole album is pretty damn good.