Vue Weekly

Dark songs of betrayal, remorse and redemption, steeped in traditional American songwriting—from the whispered, wistful opening track, the Deep Dark Woods delivers 12 captivating songs, hinting at influences from the Band to Gram Parsons to outlaw country. Gone are the jazzy, organ-fused blues ballads of 2007’s Hang Me, Oh Hang Me. Instead, violins (and producer Steve Dawson’s pedal steel) are featured prominently, creating a more straight-ahead, folk-country feel—though the band’s signature dueling guitar solos are also present here. V