CD of The Week

Nashville’s Those Darlins returned earlier this fall with their third album, Blur The Line, showing a continued maturation and evolution from the gritty group. Their 2011 release Screws Get Loose featured a twangy take on garage rock, full of smart (and smart-ass) lyrics. Founding member Kelley Anderson split from the band last year and the Darlins have come back with a darker and bigger sound.

The sprawling 1-2 opening punch of “Oh God” and “In The Wilderness” sets an ominous tone for the album, with searing guitar licks as Jessi Zazu and Nikki Kvarnes each taking a turn on the mic. (The band has dropped their shared fake last name of “Darlin,” another sign of their maturity.) “That Man” is a raw, swaying ‘60s grrrl group-goes-country tune where Zazu declares “That man don’t own me/That man don’t want me.” A major highlight is the raucous, pessimistic lead single “Optimist.” The band set their mission statement midway through the album on “Western Sky,” declaring “I don’t wanna hear another civilized roar/Let’s make our own noise” The album closes with the pseudo-hidden title track, with Zazu sounding weary and resigned.

Blur The Line is an emotionally weighty record, with the foursome managing to blur plenty of lines without a single Marvin Gaye knockoff along the way. Those Darlins played Boot & Saddle in October right after the release of the new album, but will hopefully be back in town in the New Year.