The Cave Singers - Welcome Joy

The Cave Singers are one of those bands where you would never guess what they sound like due to the pedigree of their members. Pretty Girls Make Graves, Hint Hint, and Cobra High don't exactly make one think about folk-rock, after all. Nevertheless, The Cave Singers have returned with their second album, Welcome Joy, an instantly memorable collection of ten songs. The airy folk melodies of "Summer Light" start the album off nicely, only to be one-upped by the rollicking riffs of "Leap." The true standout of The Cave Singers though is always singer Pete Quirk's voice. Rough around all the right edges, Quirk (formally of Hint Hint) proves himself on Welcome Joy by playing up his voice when he needs to, and singing softly at times to allow the other elements of the band to be heard as well. The Cave Singers' 2007 debut, Invitation Songs, still has a bit of an edge on this album, but perhaps it just needs to grow on me a little more. Overall though, if you're a fan of folk music at all, this underrated band deserves your attention.

DOWNLOAD: The Cave Singers - Welcome Joy [Matador]
Recommended Tracks: "Summer Light," "Leap," "Beach House," "I Don't Mind."