Printer's Son

Kalispell / Printer's Son - The band is called Kalispell, and their new album Printer's Son brings a minimalist composer's touch to twilight heartland rock. Lead single Windfall is not a Son Volt cover; in terms of Uncle Tupelo offshoots, it actually reminds me of those Wilco ballads that amount to an epic journey into the center of Jeff Tweedy's drowsy half-consciousness. Yet Leonard's tenor has a distinct Midwestern drawl of his own, and his eerie ruminations are accented by jazz bass, piano, brass, and classical strings that pleasantly remind me of Chicago post-rock. It's a gorgeous arrangement that lends extra weight to Leonard's wistful reflections. Shane Leonard worked with the Stray Birds, Sean and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek, and Sean Carey, and Leonard plays in Field Report. Kalispell is Leonard's own project.