Album: The Low Anthem, Smart Flesh (Bella Union)

The trouble with boasting a number of singer-songwriters within the same band is one of identity: a problem that didn't hinder Rhode Island's the Low Anthem on their breakthrough album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin in 2009 but does here.

Set your sights high, by all means, but when each track sounds like an attempt to emulate a specific great (Bruce, Bob, Leonard, the Band etc) the confused listener can't help but be left thinking "Will the real Low Anthem please stand up?"