And the War Came
And the War Came gives Shakey Graves a fuller setting while preserving the small details that make his songs distinctive. Folk and country remain part of the sound, but the arrangements also leave space for heavier blues and a clear pop instinct. Alejandro Rose-Garcia's expressive voice holds those different approaches together, moving between a gentle tone and a rougher edge.
Only Son is one of the most effective quieter songs. The spare playing lets the vocal stand close to the front, while small harmonies and percussion help the arrangement develop. The melody has enough shape to hold attention without needing a large instrumental build.
Dearly Departed brings Esmé Patterson into the picture. The two voices move around each other over a firm guitar-and-drum rhythm, making the duet feel active rather than decorative. Patterson's contributions help widen the album's emotional range while remaining connected to its informal character.
The Perfect Parts makes a stronger change. Its heavier guitar sound and blues rhythm give the record a more physical force. The rhythm section holds the shifting parts together.
Big Time Nashville Star offers another appealing vocal pairing. The exposed opening harmonies lead into an acoustic figure, with pedal steel adding colour near the end. Pansy Waltz and If Not for You find interest in their guitar phrasing, showing that the playing can be distinctive even when it avoids a showy solo.
The record is not equally engaging throughout. Family and Genus and House of Winston have less immediate pull, and their slower movement can make the sequence feel less focused. The fuller arrangements work best when they sharpen a song rather than simply giving it more room.
Call It Heaven provides a satisfying return to a more intimate sound. The acoustic shuffle and closely timed voices leave the record with a sense of musicians working naturally together. And the War Came succeeds through that balance between careful arrangement and a personal delivery. A few weaker passages remain, but the strongest songs make its wider musical world convincing.
