CD Reviews

> Jordie Lane. Blood Thinner. Vitamin Records.
4 stars (our of 5)

[1]
For his sophomore album, Blood Thinner, Melbourne folk troubadour Jordie Lane took a different approach to that employed on 2008 effort Sleeping Patterns. Gone are the guest musicians and flash studio gear; instead Lane recorded all 12 songs (well, 11 plus a brief recording of a storm) on a four-track cassette recorder.

Accompanied by deftly finger-picked acoustic guitar, banjo and occasional piano and percussion, Lane's narrative lyricism takes centre stage. The result is upfront and honest, warm and detailed and offers a reminder that the best music need not be the best dressed.

• Jordie Lane plays at The Church Café, Dunedin, on December 6

Single download: Feet Fall
For those who like: Gram Parsons, Dylan LeBlanc

- Shane Gilchrist

> The Unfaithful Ways. Free Rein. Aeroplane.
4 stars

[2]
The debut album from Christchurch quartet The Unfaithful Ways is a ramble through rustic country terrain that is welcome both for its confident delivery and its lack of alt-Americana mimicry.

Glistening, slick lead guitar work by Sebastian Warne and a vocal range to match from frontman Marlon Williams (his rendition of Townes Van Zandt's Snow Don't Fall is stunningly assured) bring to life seemingly simple compositions, with credits shared among all four members.

They can all sing, too: three of the band used to share choirboy duties years back. The result is hints of harmonic heavy-hitters The Band, The Byrds or even Big Star.

Single download: Don't Wanna Know
For those who like: The Waratahs, Ryan Adams

- Shane Gilchrist

> The Checks. Deadly Summer Sway. Pie Club Records.
5 stars

[3]
As part of the North Shore blues-based onslaught, The Checks were a precocious kick in the pants: taut angular guitars and chiming melodies, ever so slightly derivative. Fortunately, the school friends have held it together long enough to develop their own hum, and damn it sounds good.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what movement The Checks are aping now - and that's what makes Deadly Summer Sway a fine album, each song superbly crafted by five musicians at the top of their game.

With their typical lack of bombast, The Checks summon exquisite hooks that don't need amps dialled to 11.

Single download: Jet Plane
For those who like: The Stone Roses, Groove Armada, Supergrass, The Strokes

- Mark Orton