Barsuk records released the new album from Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter earlier this month, and its hard not to first be a little worn out by the lengthy album title (Like, Love, Lust & The Open Halls of the Soul) that follows an already long band name. However, once you digest that and move towards the music, its a much more forgiving process.

The band that started as a duo of Jesse Sykes and former Whiskeytown band member Phil Wandscher began writing and playing together and later brought on the rest of the Sweet Hereafter, as they are now known. The new album sees Sykes displaying a more weathered vocal style and the band a more produced sound. There are some really upbeat tunes on the album like “You Might Walk Away” and “I Like The Sound”. With the latter bringing to mind a Grace Slick sound and the former with a tipping of the cap to Cat Power.

But the twang that brought Sykes and company to the dance isnt being neglected in the corner and there are plenty of low key, string soaked songs to round this one out.

Overall, its a solid maturation for Sykes and her bandmates. You can purchase the disc from Barsuk Records here.

Jesse Sykes on MySpace

Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter – LLL

Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter – You Might Walk Away

The band is currently on the road with Sparklehorse, and the rest of those dates and more can be found by clicking the ole more link below…..

Technorati Tags: Barsuk records, Jesse Sykes, Whiskeytown, Phil Wandscher, Cat Power