The Broken West: Now Or Heaven

With

2007's I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, L.A. foursome The Broken West presented itself as

a solid though unspectacular retro-leaning pop-rock outfit, sort of like

Fountains Of Wayne minus the snark. If The Broken West had continued down a

similar path for Now Or Heaven, drawing on the jangly classic rock that countless

other power-pop bands have recycled for decades, what was once pleasant likely would

have become a stylistic dead end. Thankfully, Now Or Heaven sounds more modern than

its predecessor—if a guitar-pop record can still be described as

modern—with programmed beats and synth washes subtly placed among chiming

six-strings and creamy choruses. More importantly, the songwriting is better

this time around, with sharp hooks that draw blood once they grab on. On the

stunning "Ambuscade," the record's highlight, driving guitars and bass slip and

slither beneath an airy feeling of deep melancholy only hinted at on the debut.

The Broken West once worked overtime to sound sunny, but Now Or Heaven suggests it was really

more of an autumnal band all along.