Burning Off Impurities

Portland's Grails return with their first studio album since 2004's Redlight. An increased interest in psychedelic, ambient, and world music is most likely to blame for the group's exploration of the lesser-traveled paths of modern music. In addition, their eclectic range of collaborative endeavors - guitarist Zak Riles is also in M. Ward's band, while drummer Emil Amos has moonlighted as Jandek's drummer - has introduced an element of improvisation and reinterpretation of ideas that's both brilliant and earnest.