Water Liars – Water Liars

There's a burning passion comparable to the earlier recordings of My Morning Jacket scattered across Water Liars' third, self-titled full-length, but the airy grunge riffs on opener Cannibal give them a tougher, grittier edge. It helps that they've got a charismatic personality at the helm: Justin Kinkel-Schuster's vocals have a soulful southern twang; when he cries “I want blood / all the time” on I Want Blood, or “I was afloat / on a dirty brown river / of heroin shivers” on Swannanoa, there's audible conviction.

Ray Charles Dream, another highlight, is a fast-paced bar brawl anthem which has them toying with their punk influences, whereas Vespers strips things back in favour for a sensual-yet-melancholic vibe. It reeks of tired Americana clichés, but there's enough of a nuanced balance between the softer, acoustic-led ballads and the more energetic rock band stompers to keep the Tennessee trio safely away from the realm of self-parody. [Ross Watson]