Americana is where Starflyer 59 started to sound less like a band hiding behind its guitars and more like one that knew exactly what to do with them. The distortion is still there, and Jason Martin's voice still seems to drift in from another room. But the songs have a stronger pull than on the first two albums. I love Silver and Gold, yet this record gives me more reasons to come back.

"The Voyager" opens with a guitar riff that sticks with you long after the song ends. "The Hearttaker" keeps that momentum going, then "Harmony" gives the album a welcome change of pace. It has a brighter melody without losing the band's dreamy sound. "All You Want Are the Things I Need" and "You Think You're Radical" show how well Martin can make a simple line feel heavy. These songs are catchy, but there is still a lonely feeling underneath them.

That balance is what makes Americana work. The guitars can be thick and loud, yet the melodies never get buried. "The Translator" brings some energy to the middle of the album, while "Help Me When You're Gone" slows things down and lets the mood settle in. A few songs take their time getting where they are going, and the sound can feel a little too similar from one track to the next. I don't mind much because the best moments are so good.

By the time "Everyone But Me" closes the record, it feels like Starflyer 59 have finished one chapter and are ready to try something else. The following album, The Fashion Focus, would make that change obvious. Americana deserves its own attention, though. It is a strong, memorable guitar record with enough melody to reach beyond the band's early shoegaze sound. For me, it ranks among their best.

— Anthony P. Hanna