The Only Ones

On the follow-up to 2018s All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didnt Do, Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan return to their roots on the aptly named Only Ones, an intimate seven-song set that jettisons its predecessors expanded lineup, relying solely on the Grammy-nominated duos impeccable guitar and vocal skills. Earnest and soul-searching, opener I Meant Every Word I Said sets a somber tone, parsing through the wreckage of a failed relationship, while Ill Be Gone adopts a jauntier gait, chronicling the tried-and-true bluegrass/country rambler story arc, albeit in a minor key. The lovely My Name Is Ana delivers a heartfelt refugee tale thats as timely as it is melodically timeless, but that outward gaze is an aberration, as Pattengale and Ryan are confessional singer/songwriters to the core, and will not be deterred from their mission to reflect and connect -- the Paul Simon-esque About the Size of a Pixel is about as light-hearted as things get, but beneath its warmly lit exterior lies a cold slab of existential dread. Despite the lyrical solemnity, Only Ones emits a cozy fireplace glow that will no doubt transfer well to a live setting -- the duo plan to promote the LP via a small venue tour billed as A Night with the Milk Carton Kids in Very Small Venues at Very Low Ticket Prices. For the most part, this approach works about as well as it did on their early releases, resulting in a warm but weary amalgam of the Everly Brothers innate musicality and the Avett Brothers homespun approachability with a touch of Elliott Smiths downcast ruminations tossed in for good measure. ~ James Christopher Monger