by Jason Lymangrover

Seattle producer Phil Ek (Built to Spill, the Shins) recorded a chunk of Sea Wolf's debut, Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low, in the studio, and the rest was recorded in Alex Church's living room. This homey setting adds a personal and intimate feel to his weary but warm acoustic-based songs about insecurities and heartbreaks. Despite these sad undercurrents, the majority of the album feels upbeat and affectionate. Imagine background music for a spring road trip with Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, Jeff Tweedy and Conor Oberst. The tunes feel modern, but also classic and timeless, as if they were composed in a different era. Sometimes the instrumentation is heavily layered with cello, keys, and washed guitars, but the vibe always remains delicate and simple. These are five fine songs that gracefully play along the lulling pastures of introspective indie pop.