There was more than a bit of disappointment around here when Joe Pernice's narcotized No Depression darlings Scud Mountain Boys disbanded last year. A relief, then, that Connecticut singer/songwriter/guitarist Pernice sounds so comfortable within the soft, autumnal din of his new outfit, Pernice Brothers. Devoid of any identifiable roots touches, the six-piece organically sets their folk-pop against a classy bed of strings and understated horns. Pernice's lyrics are still a treasure, taking on shudder-inducing adult issues (suicide on "Chicken Wire," an unfulfilling career on "Monkey Suit") with unflinching detail, and his soothing just-raspy voice manages to convey a whole palette of emotions within a few notes' range. From the breezy title cut to the stark balladry of "All I Know" to the voluptuous harmonies of "Dimmest Star," this is definitely music for the hungover morning and the raindampened afternoon. Even the drums (courtesy of the Lilys' Aaron Sperske) hit like the softest of body blows.

--Lane Hewitt