First up is the new one by the Pines, my new favorite tree and new favorite band - the album is Dark So Gold and it's on Eliza Gilkyson's label, Red House. The Pines are yet another cool Minnesota band - a state that gave us Bob Himself, the Replacements, and my heroes, the Gear Daddies - and the same state that has Senator Al Franken and whistlehead Michelle Bachmann. Anyway, this one would've made my Year End list but I found that it's an advance and won't be out until January, so it'll be on next year's list. But as for now, it's stark, spare and serious low-fi country-flavored Americana - nothing like the Old 97s, but a gig with the Avett Brothers would be a good match. The first song, "Cry Cry Crow" will make you a fan and you're also gonna dig the guitar hooks on "Be There Bells" and "All the While." There's a bunch of guys in the band doing just enough to get by as this stuff in understated but not misunderstood. A head-full clearly from a band you'll love the first time.