Jake McKelvie and His Old New Band + Honey and Soul + The Upsides

On A New Kind of Hat, the new long-player from Massachusetts's own Jake McKelvie, indie-rock melodicism slow dances with alt-country ramble. A kind soul that's just a touch world-weary, McKelvie's careful economy of language belies a sly sense of humor set against a backdrop of unadorned instrumentation.

Thematically, the record strikes the perfect balance between serious musing and whimsy. With his band of in-the-pocket players at his side, McKelvie has crafted a record that is equally at home in the listening room as on the dance floor. Eminently engaging and full of nuance, A New Kind of Hat is a record destined for a treasured spot in your collection.

Jake McKelvie has been writing songs and performing them since his teens. With his band The Countertops he's released three full length records and toured relentlessly to support them. His last proper solo effort was 2016's Rhinestone Busboy.

This time around,…