(Showpony)

www.redjacketmine.net

The Northwest's gonna rise again. Though Seattle and the NW region in general no longer generates the same level of excitement it sustained for a good while in the aftermath of the Nirvana goldrush - the Internet, with all its unfolding egalitarianism, ensured that practically any regional scene could enjoy its fifteen minutes or more, A&R hysteria and press hype be damned - there are always little breakthrough moments we indie rock aficionados look (listen) for. One such moment arrives with Seattle's Red Jacket Mine, whose second full-length is bursting at the digital seams with pristine pop and luminous blue-eyed soul, with hints of psychedelia and Americana lining the seams.

Did someone just mention pop? Right from the get-go, Lovers Lookout is aglow: "Stay Golden" chugs along on a rich bed of guitar jangles and organ hums, while just two songs later, on "Childish Things," the band builds up a jubilant head of powerpop steam that'll have you reaching for your dB's and Big Star (hold that thought) records. On the latter track, guest Eyvind Kang also adds a striking, almost cinematic, string motif. And soul? The band dips a foot into Memphis and Muscle Shoals territory via "Such An Easy Thing," an organ-driven slice of R&B brimming with passion thanks to songwriter Lincoln Barr's smooth yet vulnerable warble. Likewise, "Apricot Moon" is a smoky waltztime ballad with soaring vocal harmonies and Kang's strings again lending an uncommon dramatic heft; another guest, Ian Moore, unleashes some appropriately bluesy guitar licks as well. And everything coalesces wonderfully with "The Pose," a shimmering, thrumming marriage of Brit-pop and vintage college rock, sophisticated in tone yet with a raw, primal edge.

As produced by Ken Stringfellow, Lovers Lookout has instant cover-sticker cachet - and Posies/Big Star/R.E.M. fans will surely find the four young men of Red Jacket Mine to be kindred spirits - but the bottom line is that these guys have the kind of songs and chops that will weather any level of scrutiny. Come on up for the rising.

Standout Tracks: "The Pose," "Apricot Moon," "Childish Things" FRED MILLS