Dead Confederate has been compared to Nirvana and Pink Floyd over the years, and surely Dinosaur Jr. should be there as well. The angst-ridden vocal lines of "Vacations"—with its twisty and screeching lead guitar licks—are the sounds of a relatively young band exploring its influences. The seven-plus minutes of "Slow Poisons" roots its magic in the simple but progressive strains of early-'70s rock, whereas the four minutes of "Bleed-Through" capture the familiar trudging of '90s indie rock groups from Pavement to The Breeders and Archers of Loaf. Dead Confederate isn't afraid of showing its lumps. The title track starts with guitars finding each other and eventually melding into a pretty melody that evokes the minor-key dirges of the grunge era. "Big City Life" takes the group back to its Augusta, Ga., roots for a tortoise-paced alt-country sound. The bonus track "Took a Bad Hand" kicks up the tempo for a charming psych/garage rock tune.