'Sun' shines for The Elected

TITLE/ARTIST: "Sun, Sun, Sun," The Elected

QUICK DESCRIPTION: The sophomore release from Rilo Kiley's guitarist Blake Sennett, "Sun, Sun, Sun" is a pleasant, country-lite affair. The music mirrors the atmosphere it was recorded in - sometimes in the studio but mostly while out on the open road for the Rilo Kiley tour.

FIRST REACTION: An easygoing, carefree album. There's a lot to like with Blake Sennett's falsetto and the warm instrumentation surrounding it.

BEST FEATURE: If the band Rilo Kiley sounds this good split up, imagine how amazing their next album will be when they get back together. Blake Sennett's (a former child TV star) twangy guitar meanders through an impressive and eclectic sample of sounds that make this album hard to place in any genre. "Fireflies in a Steel Mill" is a feel-good track, lush with steel guitar and a horns section. "It Was Love" is the most fascinating track, with a stilted, lyric rhythm and a spaced-out accordion backing. "The Bank and Trust" deals with the troubles of growing up and wanting to move out of a confined town. The angst is heightened by the country-style guitars and great storytelling.

WORST FEATURE: Several tracks have the unique ability to seem both cheesy and endearing. Also, if you already have the Rilo Kiley-member Jenny Lewis album, "Rabbit Fur Coat," you might not need to satisfy your Rilo Kiley solo-project fix beyond that album.

For fans of: Rilo Kiley, Coldplay and Trashcan Sinatras.

DON'T MISS: "Fireflies in a Steel Mill," "It Was Love," "The Bank and Trust."

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