DELTA SPIRIT

It’s fitting that Delta Spirit’s third full-length album is self-titled. The band reinvents itself here, channeling the raucous energy and sound of its live performances. Lineup changes—guitarist Sean Walker has been replaced by Will McLaren—and a cross-country relocation from Long Beach, Calif., to Brooklyn has erased the rootsy folk leanings of previous releases, leaving tightly crafted rock in their place. Multilayered soundscapes developed with producer Chris Coady create a compelling backdrop for frontman Matt Vasquez’s vocals, which range from a boyish chirp on peppy toe-tapper “California” to a raspy howl on “Tear It Up.” Sandwiched between the two best songs (the guitar-driven “Idaho” and “Otherside”), the droning “Home” robs Delta Spirit of  some of its momentum. No matter: Delta Spirit has found its best self, and the result is one of the year’s freshest, most enjoyable listens.  –Juli Thanki