Or, The Whale

There's a moment off the top of Or the Whale's self-titled sophomore release where it's unclear what the San Francisco, CA-based are about. Are the septet just another group of indie kids copping a roots sound to fit in with the rest of the crowd or are they a country western band with some indie leanings? But by the time third track "Rusty Road" starts it's quite clear that unlike many of their contemporaries, Or, The Whale sound and feel like the real deal. Leading the charge is the twin vocal assault of Matt Sartain and Lindsay Hunt, each a formidable presence on their own but together they're absolutely devastating. While not the most inventive outfit, Or, The Whale are a true country rock band that will hopefully continue churning out fantastic records like this long after the tourists have fallen by the wayside.