Delta Spirit

Delta Spirit recorded its debut album, Ode to Sunshine, in a cabin on the desert outskirts of San Diego. However, the sound produced there — a contemporary update of folksy protest music with strong hints of soul — is awash in humanity. With a granular voice always seeming to be on the verge of petering out, singer Matt Vasquez's lyrics are far-reaching homilies, meant as much for the stage as a secular pulpit. On the whole, the Southern California quintet displays indie-rock sensibilities refreshingly devoid of the usual irony, navel-gazing and self-congratulation. The piano-driven "Trashcan" includes the added instrumentation indicated in the song's title. It's a small but potent example of Delta's affinity for deeply woven textures. Ode is the sort of raw, acoustic and pensive album one hopes to hear at last call but rarely does.