The Shaky Hands: Lunglight

Nick Delffs' vocals,

aiming high and tuneful through what must be some raw sinus passages, lend The

Shaky Hands an enjoyable case of the jitters. The Portland group makes the best

case for itself when the instrumentation matches Delffs' frazzled energy, and Lunglight does that more

effectively than last year's self-titled debut. "Air Better Come" balances creepiness

with comfort, serenity with shakes. It itches with extra percussion and some

squiggly-scratchy guitar bits, in one of many arrangements that nearly drown

out familiar-sounding melodies and hooks. The Shaky Hands reach a better balance

on "No Say," complementing a tale of despair with sparse verses that slowly

build into brief outbursts, and the harmonies of "Wake The Breathing Light"

catch the band at its most fun. Like The Shaky Hands' live set, Lunglight stirs up a worthy frolic

with tattered scraps of psychedelic pop, surf-rock, frenzied folk, and a bit of

Velvet Underground grit. If only the band's perversely gleeful touch weren't

the only thing holding these pleasures together.