Innocence

Innocence

The band Pontiak are full of quirky components. First, the trio are brothers, raised in Virginia farm country; second, they have a fondness for vintage analog equipment and often record in their farmhouse studio; third, they’ve released 10 records in 10 years, with two in 2008 and two in 2009. They’re a consistent crew, churning out guitar rock built on mountainous riffs and colored with the neon glow of a bygone era (and infused with the teen-spirit scent of another), and the stalwart label Thrill Jockey has released all of their albums. Innocence does, however, mark some kind of … moment for the brothers, with a trifecta of perfectly balanced production, song style, and clarity all converging neatly into a record that could appeal just as solidly to fans of Sleepy Sun as it could to fans of Mount Carmel. From the muddy grooves of “Innocence” to the acoustic breezes of “Wildfires” through to the neck-breaking denouement of “We’ve Got It Wrong,” the 30 minutes here pack a breathtaking wallop.

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