Heartless Bastards

Before The Mountain, a Heartless Bastards album was more or less the band setting up its gear in the studio and rocking out. The Mountain is different. While "Early in the Morning" and "Nothing Seems the Same" prove the band still drops the (indie) blues-rock hammer, the rest of this killer album finds the Heartless Bastards exploring Crazy Horse-brand country rock, acoustic blues and even some moody folk-rock. As always, the star of the show is Erika Wennerstrom's voice, a gnarly chunk of contorted beauty.