Brother's Blood

Cut from the same cloth as Elliott Smith and other acoustic Beatle-worshippers, Brooklyn singer-songwriter Kevin Devine has built up a small but rabid following by crafting simple, haunting tunes with vivid lyrics. Devine explores all kinds of themes, but seems to touch on spiritual matters regularly, and, refreshingly, often from an angle of despair, questioning, and confusion. The former journalism student also has a keen eye turned to politics, and is equally adept at covering current events and environmental concerns without dating himself. This fifth studio album contains one of his best songs, the unrelenting "Another Bag of Bones." Apocalyptic images and an ambiguous position on prayer build up to create a compelling social critique that stays in one's head long after the last chord is strummed.