Limbeck (April 10)
3 1/2 stars
They may officially hail from Orange County, California, but sonically Limbeck—vocalist/guitarist Robb MacLean, guitarist/keyboardist Patrick Carrie, bassist Justin Entsminger and drummer Jon Phillip—are more at home two time zones away from that region’s prevalent pop-punkers, emo emulators and ska survivors. Three albums in, and the youthful quartet of hippie-rock ramblers finally add a little depth to their relentlessly cheery alt-country stompers, as sweeping Americana do-si-dos with in-the-moment pop narratives concerning real-life people, places and wide-open spaces. Kiddos seeking a musical gateway drug to The Jayhawks, Old 97’s and beyond need look no further. –Julie Seabaugh