Jonathan Inc.

As one of the West Coast's most respected young songwriters and musicians, Jonathan Anderson continues to make great strides in the studio as well. This second release as Jonathan Inc. is a moody extension of his folk roots into more textured areas, often echoing the obvious influence of Elliott Smith's last two albums. That's not to downplay Anderson's accomplishment here, since god knows there isn't enough of this kind of music around right now. Anderson does have his own voice and here he has learned to manipulate it with the music. The opener, "Turning The Tides," is only one example of how he uses space and his bandmates to the song's ultimate advantage. The rest of the album follows a similar pattern of songs beginning with simple ideas and ending up as gorgeously arranged emotional statements. An excellent find for fans of intelligent pop.