The San Diego quintet has a lot of things going for them, not the least of which is a passionate, soulful naiveté that emerges from almost every song. Singer Matthew Vasquez sounds like he means it, and their music seems to strive for a place where innovation and a sense of historical homage can co-exist. From the keyboard driven first single "Trashcan" to the Brit-popish "People C'mon" to the anxious, driving "Children", Delta Spirit will surprise you with their – well – spirit. The album's opening track "Tomorrow Goes Away" sounds like an outtake from the McCartney album. The title track is a loose, soulful waltz that shows the band's obvious talent for building drama, with a timeless melodic payoff. "Parade" is just a great track, with a slightly off kilter guitar run that's guaranteed to make you smile.

Yeah... I like this quite a bit. Delta Spirit is a band that sounds like they could take us with them on a long journey, not just a dizzying ascent and drop.

Written by Dan Reed