The Presidents Of The United States Of America: II

The Sonora Pine's music possesses an almost subliminal beauty: There's virtually no tension on the band's seven-song sophomore release, and the many instruments—various combinations of violin, guitars, bass, cello, organs, accordions and drums, with almost no voices—are there to soothe, not dominate the mix with overbearing solos or orchestral slickness. Moving at a deliberate, loping pace over a mere 36 minutes, the Louisville-based band keeps its sound nice and organic, with moments of elegant, sad beauty spread throughout. The Sonora Pine's self-titled 1996 debut was more uneven and disorienting: Its ambient ballads were intertwined with rockier fare, and though it was a lot more challenging, it didn't work quite so well as a whole. Formed out of the ashes of Rodan (which was in turn formed out of the ashes of the legendary Slint), The Sonora Pine's pedigree is firmly intact. Fortunately, with this gently pretty new collection, it's building up a recorded legacy to match.