The Head and the Heart

This second release from the Seattle, WA folk-rock outfit begins on an appropriately autumnal note with "Homecoming Heroes' — its delicate piano/violin melody augmented by a strong, driving beat. It's a similar formula employed with great success by many of the Head and the Heart's Northwest peers, although there's much more refinement on Let's Be Still. While founders Jonathan Russell and Josiah Johnson do seem to come from the Simon & Garfunkel school of songcraft, an appreciation of California pop also comes out in tracks like "Summertime," energetically sung by the group's sole female member: Charity Rose Thielen. It adds a bright counterpoint to the majority of sedate, austere tracks like "Josh McBride," which quotes Bob Dylan's "Boots Of Spanish Leather." Fans of Fleet Foxes will want to be aware of this group.