Coming just six months after its debut, Crimes is the delightfully sprawling sophomore release by These United States that showcases the ambition and creative drive of this intriguing new band. Blending indie rock with a touch of country twang that taps its Kentucky roots, the band boasts an energetic looseness that is sustained for the entire album. Lead singer Jesse Elliott has an excellent voice and a strong delivery and he packs a vanload of images, observations, and references into these dozen songs. Ricocheting between wordy and dense and insightful and inspired, the songs speak of crimes, sin, and salvation in their various forms. Yet even though the lyrics can sometimes get a bit thick, they are usually saved by catchy sing-along choruses, something the band does particularly well. The looser, hook-heavy romps like “Susie At the Seashore,” “Honor Amongst Thieves,” and “Six Fast Bullets (Five Complaints)” are balanced by slower songs like “We Go Down to That Corner,” “Heaven Can Wait,” and “Study the Moon” and allow the listener a moment to catch a breath, while also giving the album a good flow and continuity. Overall, Crimes is a highly enjoyable and original work that could earn the band a much wider audience.