On its third album, this Brooklynbased country/roots band pushes further into the darker side of Americana.

Guitarist/lead vocalist Blake Christiana guides the band, with Trevor MacArthur on guitar and vocals, Andrew Hendryx on mandolin and harmonica, Rick Bugel on bass, and Jay Frederick on drums and percussion. Cameos by Jeremy Garrett on fiddle and Skip Krevens on pedal-steel add a dash of spice to the proceedings. Stylistically, the music on Come On In is similar to the band’s previous work, though the lyrical content isn’t quite as dark. Alcohol still features prominently as subject matter on “These Bars Don’t Look Too Friendly,” which lends a more ambivalent view of booze, while “Schenectaday” is a bittersweet ditty about the upstate New York town.

The most pitiful song is “I Wanted to Get High,” which focuses on that existential moment when only one thing matters.

If you like your country roots music unvarnished and raw, give a listen to Yarn.

This article originally appeared in VG’s Oct. ’09 issue.  All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar