Anyone looking for further proof that Brazos isn't a band but the work of Martin Crane and whomever he deems worthy need look no further than 2013's Saltwater. Here, Crane—having moved from Austin to Brooklyn—hires a new bassist (Spencer Zahn) and drummer (Ian Chang) to be his band. Whatever chemistry the previous group had achieved on Phosphorescent Blues and on the ensuing tour is null and void; the new chapter includes thicker productions and better-thought-out arrangements that range from the jittery worldbeat approximation of "Always On" to the indie pop bounce of "How the Ranks Was Won," complete with a wordless multi-vocal chorus that's pure 2013. "Long Shot," the final ballad, settles in with an acoustic guitar, floating keyboards, and a pained vocal; it strikes hardest. It suggests that beyond the smart and considered arrangements is a singer/songwriter who's looking for way to sing from the heart.