By Jack Daniel Betz

Delta Spirit started out their musical life as a quaint, folksy, Americana-laden, indie act. Most of the music off their first album (2006’s “Ode to Sunshine“) reminds me of Athens Georgia folk project Phosphorescent: heavy on lap-steel and country authenticity. However, over their next two albums they underwent a radical transformation.

On their sophomore LP “History from Below” they clung to their folk roots but embraced a slightly harder, more modern sound. This metamorphosis began to show on songs like “Bushwick Blues” where buzzing electric guitars and splashy reverb replaced soft folk crooning and acoustic jangling. Still, the mix was closer to 50/50 folk and modern rock.

As other critics have pointed out, their self-titled March release seems to be self-titled for a reason: acknowledging a kind of rebirth. “Tear it up” shows just how different the band sounds in 2024 with its quirky experimental percussion and growled Wolf Parade-like vocals. The music just sounds bigger, in general. More dramatic, more bold. The quaintness has largely evaporated and left in its place a spacey modern rock that somehow still retains warmth and familiarity.

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Songs I hope they play but they probably won’t: “Trashcan”, “Strange Vine”

Sounds like: Lindsay Buckingham, Phosphorescent

You may also like: Cass McCombs, The War on Drugs, Dr. Dog

Songs they will definitely play: “California”, “Idaho”, “Parade”, “Timebomb”

Best album: “Delta Spirit”

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