"A timeless work that draws from the touchstones of all types of American music," says Figgle of 21st century American, new from Jedediah Parish. It's certainly a distinctive, vaguely nostalgic collection. His label Lunch Records suggests Tom Waits, Brian Wilson - reallyrather would also toss in the astringency and musical rovings of, say, Donald Fagen. Despite names like these, it's a guitar-led album - ranging from the jaunty railroad swing of opener A train named Hiawatha through to the stark Gothic Bad dream blues. A vintage organ gets plenty of chances in between though, the whole thing having a very immediate, unfussy sound (even when the arrangements themselves get fussy in lovely Wilson-esque orch-pop fashion). Covering a hatful of styles and with enough lyrical and musical twists to ensure plenty of repeat plays, Parish's hard high voice, sometimes rasping, sometimes falsetto, is definitely one worth hearing...

"If you really knew the sad clowns we are behind the joyous, uplifting nature of our carefully cultivated public image.." - MomZine talks to The Mendoza Line...

"This is not your typical powerpop collection. Perhaps he still doesn't write choruses in a way that would please major label record execs, but his raw musical talent is enormous. It's redolent of early Matthew Sweet or Alex Chilton, yet remains something sweetly original." - PopMatters on the new Brendan Benson...

Main effect of seeing a rather good Doves on Later last week was merely to increase the impatience to hear new stuff from that other (rather less epic) trio Wheat...