Portage & Main

For their sophomore independent release, Vancouver, BC-based quintet Portage and Main whip up another trusty batch of country rock tunes nurtured by an unabashed pop sensibility. But there's nothing contrived here, as the hearty composition of classic country elements, involving pedal steel and acoustic guitar, embodies the pure pleasure of bringing these sounds together. Layers of sweet vocal harmonies, piano and organ climb over "As A Child" with golden clarity, while "Sweet Darlin'" packs a guitar-grizzled punch into three-and-a-half minutes of brazen Southern sing-along. "Better Man" lends another upbeat number to this mostly mid-tempo catalogue, peppering the easy pace set by the opening title track. Breaks from the middling tempo are welcomed, but not always fully realized, leaving some reserves of climactic potential untapped. "Good Morning Sunshine" itches for a pipe-bursting break into fully charged guitar solos and barn-burning choruses, yet instead simmers gently over lyrics of an otherwise triumphant nature. However, it's hardly a scuff to the surface of this memorable collection of swoon-y hooks and soft-stomping melodies.