True North

The follow-up to Last Train Home's self-titled debut album, True North combines earnest songwriting with a variety of roots styles, including bluegrass, country, and folk. Lead singer Eric Brace's warm, deep voice is well supported by a talented, polished band that plays with soul and energy. The songwriting is a somewhat mixed bag -- at times, relatively simple and sincere tales of heartbreak seem to dominate, while other times the band seems to be going into the ironic territory that is more often inhabited by the alt-country folks in Austin and Chicago. However, on at least one song, "Doughnut Girl," the irony could have been pushed a little further. One at least hopes that there is an ironic twinkle in Brace's eye as he is singing about falling in love while eating a bag of doughnuts and winding up with a "glazed" look on his face. The song, however, pretty much comes across straight which makes it seem more gooey than a fresh Krispy Kreme. Overall, though, the music succeeds and this is a fine sophomore effort. ~ Stacia Proefrock