The Transmissionary Six come from the branch of a musical family tree whose roots would be
Wilco,
Cowboy Junkies, and
Hem, among others. Led by the gorgeous vocals of Terri Moeller, the group nails the midtempo alt-country opener, "Zero Gravity," before venturing down a dark, murky, and somewhat dreary lane with "The Dangling Electrified Boy," which resembles a Margo Timmins solo project. The momentum continues with the slightly poppy and roots-oriented "Edison Stare," which shines. However, the Transmissionary Six stay in the same gear for the airy, atmospheric pop oozing from "Landslide," a track that is pretty but not picture perfect. The second half of this album might leave you scratching your head in perplexity, mainly because the Americana sound is usurped by something leaner, edgier, but not as solid. This is particularly evident on "They Finally Let Me Drive," which could have found its way onto an early
Tom Petty album. The light California pop fueling "I Want to Deprogram You" also leaves one a bit unsatisfied, despite its warm vibe. Perhaps the sleeper pick on the record is "Lovesick at the Crimescene," a groovy romp that could have come straight from a '70s AOR radio station's playlist. The band returns to its strong points with another dusty, country-tinged nugget entitled "Your Holland Code," which is in no rush to conclude. ~ Jason MacNeil