Novena On A Nocturn

Tim Kasher sums up his latest project, the Good Life, aptly: "It's the culmination of twelve years of writing songs on the side, while also writing songs for a full band setting." Known for his work with the band Cursive, in which he walks the fine line between indie rock and melodic pop, here with The Good Life he takes full advantage of an ever-changing group of musicians to capture a unique sound -- an atmospheric walk through the pop idiom, with songs full of longing and lament.

These are the sorts of tunes he once performed at coffeehouses and the like. Now fleshed out, the nine songs on "Novena on a Nocturn" are at once more acoustic-flavored and, if possible, even more lyrically introspective than his past work. Includes guest musicianship from Mike Mogis (Lullaby for the Working Class, Bright Eyes) and a whole cast of characters from Omaha. The resulting sound is exquisitely produced, a layered affair, using a wider palette of musical influence and instrumentation. There's the lilting piano of "Your Birthday Present," which tinges the whole of the song with an aching melancholy, as well as a world-weary resignation, which we should all be too young to identify with at 26. The beauty of the instrumentation sharply brings in to focus Tim Kasher's compelling voice, with its rich resonance, at once haunting, and heartfelt. There's also fragile charm of the tragic ballad "The Competition." And the sweeping majesty of "Moon Red Handed," which belies the simplicity of its melody with the intricacy of its arrangement. Just the tip of the iceberg here. Each track builds on what came before.