Angular but straightforward, simple but complex, lyrical but heavy: The Ballad of Shorty Long is a technicolor showcase of our brand of left-of-center songwriting. This is music that goes down smooth, even as it defies easy categorization.

From the odd-meter “Fleetwood Mac meets Radiohead” lope of Hills To Climb, to the manic satirical jazz-pop of Sleep Tight, to the eerie “post-punk malt-shop” sweep of Nothing To Say, the album packs a surprisingly diverse sound. And yet, as one song proceeds to the next, a sense of flow develops, giving this collection a real “whole album” kind of feel.