One Is One＜Teal/Red & White Splatter Vinyl＞

2020s What Is There saw Delta Spirit abandon the indie roots-rock style of early efforts like Ode to Sunshine and History from Below for a sound that hewed closer to the slick, modern Americana-pop of the Killers. One Is One continues in that vein, adding a dense slurry of electronic elements to the early proceedings and a surprisingly Beatlesque sense of adventure to the latter half. In less-skilled hands, such deviations could induce whiplash, but theres a marked assuredness behind disparate cuts like the vampy disco-banger "It Aint Easy," the Spaghetti Western-kissed "Ghost of Caddo," and the artsy, multi-layered "Thoughts on Seneca." That quiet swagger seeps into the albums quieter moments as well, with the poised "Lottery Ticket" earning its warm soft-rock patina and the gospel-tinged closer "On & On (Look Away)" its opulent, widescreen grandeur. One Is One finally gets the recipe right, crystallizing Delta Spirits multifaceted style into something that is uniquely theirs. ~ James Christopher Monger