American Don
The music onAmerican Donunfurls slowly, revealing intricate designs on its petals of sound. It's a bit of a change from the Pittsburgh-based band's earlier albums, which worked in the same vein but with less delicacy. Now Don Caballero's sound boasts a dynamic similar toKing Crimson's work from the late '70s and early '80s; guitarist Ian William's four- to eight-note patterns are a direct ode to guruRobert Fripp. The similarities to the famous prog-rock band end there. Don Caballero's quirkiness shows through in the band's tongue-in-cheek song titles ("The Peter Criss Jazz," "You Drink a Lot of Coffee for a Teenager") and drummer Damon Che's aerobic, acrobatic skin pounding. The final product is a lush set of swirl that ebbs, flows, and spins in place à laPhilip Glass. The slightly jazzy but mostly trance-like collection overcomes its limitations and is highly recommended.--Jason Josephes