Blur the Line

Personnel: Nikki Kvarnes, Jessi Zazu (vocals, guitar); Adam Schatz (saxophone, keyboards); Linwood Regensburg (drums, background vocals); Adrian Barrera (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Roger Moutenot.
Recording information: Haptown Studios, Nashville, TN.
Those Darlins went through a couple of changes after the release of their excellent 2011 album Screws Get Loose, losing one member (guitarist Kelly), adding another (Adrian Barrera), and then switching up their sound again. After going from a rambling country band to a tough garage punk combo, the group bulk up their sound on 2013's Blur the Line, and with production help from Roger Moutenot, smooth down the wild edges and careening performances of Screws Get Loose in favor of a more powerful indie rock approach. The album is dominated by thoughtful ballads and empowering rockers, but a couple tunes ("Optimist" and "Baby Mae") recapture some of the energy of Screws. ~ Tim Sendra