Following up on 2009's
Phosphorescent Blues,
Brazos' Martin Crane continued to evolve, expanding on
Brazos' raw beginnings with keyboards and thick production. New additions drummer Ian Chang and bassist
Spencer Zahn are a tight, lively rhythm section and add their share of Afro-pop syncopation or tastefully choppy beats to keep things interesting, but
Saltwater is very much a showcase for Crane. His ability to write a simple acoustic-based song and turn it immense through layered multi-instrumentation is impressive. The lush, theatrical pop style of a song like "Valencia" is so dramatic that it brings to mind a Broadway show tune set to a backdrop that pairs folk, prog, and jazz aspects with indie. If moments like this and "Always On" might seem a bit overcooked, the slight, reverberated chillwave of "Deeper Feelings" is a nice way to bring things back to earth and remind us of the emotional punch created by intimacy. Early albums illustrated Crane's abilities as a vocalist and a lyricist, and this is a chance to show growth and exploration as a songwriter.
Wilco's
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and
White Denim's
D are examples of similar-sounding albums that successfully pushed the respective bands outside their comfort zones, and
Saltwater takes
Brazos to a new plateau in the same way. The excellent "How the Ranks Was Won" is an unusual change of pace that works surprisingly well as a post-rock groove in the spirit of
Television's "Marquee Moon." This might be the high point and standout single of the album. Then again, the final ballad, "Long Shot," has such emotional weight that you have to wonder if Crane should be serving all of his dishes raw. ~ Jason Lymangrover