Oakley Hall

Rough-hewn and bright-spirited, Oakley Hall comes into their own with their second LP by balancing trippy, droning fuzz guitar and close, country harmonies. Rock songs like the opening "Hiway" and forceful "Landlord" wield neo-traditional elements that are pulled off with as much success as the unvarnished banjo-fiddle arrangement of "Adalina Roselma Lapage." Throughout, bandleader and singer Pat Sullivan's songwriting brings to mind folk-rock savant Richard Thompson, with all the requisite grit.