Little known singer-songwriter Drazy Hoops' seventh full-length release Into the Red is a real gem that in a perfect world would sit on all the hip critics’ year-end lists. There is much to love here, with shades of artists like Tindersticks, Uncle Tupelo, Richard Buckner, and Ryan Adams mixed and stirred with Chicago/New York singer/songwriter Drazy Hoops’ own alt.country stylings. Tracks like “Don’t Be Fooled” and “We Love You All” have a gritty, moody feel recalling the early days of alt.country, but then a track like “I Have to Admit I’ve Got a Problem” comes along like a sassy younger sibling: it’s a back-to-basics pop song, with Hoops singing barely above a whisper, until the guitars and rhythm section slowly move from a trot to a gallop, and his dry, flat tone takes on an airy cheeriness in a ridiculously infectious chorus. When you hear “This Is Real Love” for the third time, the tune wraps around you like an old friend, with a warm slide guitar and Hoops’ denouncements begging for a sing-along: “Well, if you don’t mind, I just wanna try to deny/that this is real love, and not just time passing by...” Hoops’ lyrics are strong, his melodies even stronger, and his muddiest growl and bluesiest arrangements can’t hide the joy in his amazing songs.