Many of the critics reviewing this album compared band member Alexis Krauss’ singing to something like religious chanting and the comparison is appropriate. There is a hypnotic, meditative quality to the vocals, especially on stand-out tracks like “Rill Rill.” But for my money, the real star here is Derek Miller’s production, which, in a year of catchy and crunchy guitar riff pyrotechnics (see: Fang Island), is the undisputed King of the Mountain. Listen for the thrilling moment on “Infinity Guitars” around the 1:51 mark when the already loud song gets inexplicably louder. It is obvious throughout that their amps go to “11.” Grade: A-
