It’s been four long years since New Jersey band Roadside Graves released the excellent We Can Take Care of Ourselves and at last they bring us Acne/Ears. This personal album features John Gleason’s distinctly creaking vocals, polished storytelling and songcraft alongside a tight country flecked indie rock band. The addition of synths is noticeable immediately, and not because it distracts, but rather it melds so seamlessly into their sound that it feels innate. Album highlights include: one of my favorite tracks of 2015, “Gospel Radio”; the melancholic “Endangered”; the heartbreaker “The Whole Night”; the eponymous opener; and the reflective road song “Donna (Reno).” Roadside Graves are consistently considered one of America’s most underrated bands and with “Acne/Ears” they prove this to be true yet again. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Ryan Bingham, Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons, The Deep Dark Woods, Futurebirds