It’s tempting to lump Oakley Hall into some twangy alt-country ghetto with its Gitche-goomee references and ability to wring two syllables out of the word “truck,” but the Brooklyn band—led by ex-Oneida guitarist Pat Sullivan—has the melodies, musicianship and experimental twists to avoid any snap-shirted pigeonhole. The slow-burning “Marine Life” gets things started with flickering guitars and quavering vocals before the soaring boy/girl harmonies of “No Dreams” spiral into a swaggering stomp that hints at Oakley Hall’s reputation as a fire-breathing live act. But it’s the subtle touches—a harpsichord here, a backward-tracked guitar there—that elevate the band above its more tradition-minded contemporaries. “Alive Among Thieves” practically arrives from a whole different album with a darting waltz, and “Free Radicals Lament” resembles a well-caffeinated Will Oldham with its groaning strings. The only missteps are when Oakley Hall drifts into more straightforward terrain, as on “Angela” and “First Frost,” which veer uncomfortably close to coffeehouse fare. Still, there’s a lot to love here, no Western wear required. [www.mergerecords.com]
—Chris Barton
