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CIRCLES
(Arena Rock)
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If the pristine modern production didn’t give it away, you’d have a hard time placing the Autumn Defense’s sophomore album. From the Nick Drake–ish fingerpicking intro and the 12-string guitar solo reminiscent of the Byrds on "The Answer" to the melodic Pet Sounds bass breaks of "Some Kind of Fool" to the Beatles-esque harmonies throughout the album, the group’s influences are an open secret. Nonetheless, these are tasteful nods to pop’s past. The Autumn Defense comprise John Stirratt, who lives in Chicago, and Pat Sansone, who’s in New York. Stirratt, whose day job for the past decade has been playing bass in Wilco, is largely responsible for the songwriting and singing on this, their follow-up to 2001’s The Green Hour (Broadmoor), and Wilco’s influence is felt both indirectly in the simple song structures and directly in Jeff Tweedy’s guitar cameo on "Why I’m like This." Sansone, a utility player whose credits include production, engineering, and countless instruments on albums by artists from the Squirrel Nut Zippers to former Soul Asylum frontman Dave Pirner, contributes more in the way of arrangement and instrumentation. He does sing lead on a few tracks, including the opening "Silence" and, unfortunately, the disc’s weakest song, "Tuesday Morning," which teeters on the edge of adult contemporary. Stirratt, who’s the better singer, sets the disc’s tone with sweet, double-tracked vocals that are often reminiscent of a young Roger Daltrey. Along with layers of watery electric and acoustic guitars and the occasional horn and string accompaniment, that melancholy voice lifts the Autumn Defense above side-project status without quite reaching Wilco-like heights. (The Autumn Defense play T.T. the Bear’s Place, 10 Brookline Street in Central Square, next Friday, February 13; call 617-492-BEAR.)
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