Cedarland

Palaxy Tracks' second album is a sleepy mix of crystalline pop and delicate instrumentation, an American rock record that channels the Spring rain melancholy of your favorite British LPs from the early '80s. "Cedarland" recalls the depth of Joy Division with the quiet, ethereal luster of Galaxie 500, while the overarching theme -- it's over, but still we cling -- is calmly and resolutely worked out through the course of these 11 picture-perfect pop songs. As sharp slices of slide guitar, ambient feedback, wurlitzer organ and singing saw waft in and out from behind singer Brandon Durham's wistful croon, "Cedarland" evokes a vision of rainy English skies from beneath Texas' calm, wide, blue ones.