BY BLOOD [Vinyl]

Shovels & Rope open By Blood, their fifth album of original material, with "I'm Comin' Out," a stomping, fuzz-drenched rocker that serves as a statement of purpose: the duo is indeed moving from the shadows into the light. "I'm Comin' Out" pulsates with vivid primary colors, a distinct switch from a band who previously specialized in shades of grey. As such, it's a fitting keynote for By Blood, which is by many measures the boldest record Shovels & Rope have made. Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst accentuate By Blood with an impressionistic flair that is far beyond drums and guitar: harmonies pile up on "Twisted Sisters," keyboards and pianos pepper the margins, amps are cranked til they cry, horns sneak into the frame, and acoustic elements can be processed to sound otherworldly. Not every cut bristles with this sense of adventure -- there are still plenty of stark, plaintive ballads that provide the record with a sensitive, quivering foundation -- but by balancing their familiar backwoods brooding with fearless rock & roll, they've wound up with an album with a wild, twitching heart. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Rock