Wilderness

Archer Prewitt has been putting out intelligent, sophisticated pop music for some time now, and Wilderness is another absolute gem. There's a certain sense of melancholy running throughout, but this is often belied by the upbeat music, which often takes unexpected yet totally natural twists and turns. Tempos change in mid-tune, and sparse accompaniment will suddenly blossom into a lush cinematic sound with horns and strings, as on the majestic coda to "Cheap Rhyme." The band is spot-on, and the album has an inviting, relaxed sound. The songs are utterly engaging, and the detailed arrangements reveal more with each listen. Choosing highlights would be arbitrary at best; Prewitt has written a great batch of tunes, and the production and arrangements show him to be a supreme pop craftsman.