The Dearhunters - Red Wine And Blue (1999)

A brief yet popular band in Australia, the Dearhunters' dreamy pop debut record reaps the seeds of soft melodies, bittersweet harmonies, and a distinctive strength in having all members contributing songs. Touching on the No Depression alternative country motif on "Heads," the band seems quite adept at covering slow, wistful ballads as they are upbeat pop. When the band even opts for a winding sonic road during "All Over Now," the group maintains their integrity over most of the song's five minutes. There are obvious differences depending on who sings lead, with songs written -- such as "Ballerina" by Jodi Phillis -- having a deliberate yet more uplifting feeling from them, while those by Tim Oxley have a Brian Wilson hue of melancholy throughout. If there's anything going against the album, it's the fact most of the songs have the same basic arrangement with little digression permitted. "Clothes" is the exception to the rule, perhaps the loudest or rowdiest song within prior to "Alien Ship." Closing the album with a bang of all assets within, the record ends as stellar as its opening.