So Many Faces

Album Review

Left Hand Smoke's second album continues to flaunt conviction and chops beyond the band's years. Re-recordings of three songs from their debut suggests a lack of fresh material, but "Another Gypsy Rose" is a great Stones-ey rocker, an excellent follow-up to "Blue Eyes Shinin'," and the most convincing rock & roll the group has recorded. "Paradise Blues" starts things off with a bang, while "Wake Me Up" is a friendly, anthemic rocker in the vein of "Step Outside." Ben Mish's shouting strains on occasion, but by and large he is starting to assume a more natural identity as a singer, and Will Mish fattens the mix with incredibly funky riffs and solos. Prior to this album's completion Left Hand Smoke finally added the permanent rhythm section of Andrew Scaglione (bass) and Andrew Cloutier (drums).