Starry Mind

Singer-songwriter Pat Gubler began his career working in a solo acoustic format, but on his first release in four years, he's regrouped in a new full-band setting that takes his music into an interesting new direction. It's not an entirely unexpected change -- 2007's Slightly Sorry found him working with other musicians -- but there's certainly a level of surprise here. For one thing, in this electric context, Gubler's voice takes on a heretofore-unnoticed resemblance to Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson. (Just so we're clear, this is meant as a compliment.) Over half of the eight songs stretch out over the five-minute mark, featuring loose-limbed guitar solos and other instrumental jams; because Gubler's songwriting remains rooted in fairly traditional folk forms, the overall effect of songs like "Letter" is more Fairport Convention than Quicksilver Messenger Service: fleet and expansive, not heavy blues-rock grinds. Even acoustic-based tunes like the spooky, country-tinged "Days Hang Heavy" are decorated with ghostly slide guitar runs. Those who have followed the likes of Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Bill Callahan into this revitalized form of denim-era rock will find much to like here.