The Dear Hunter

Act II: The Meaning Of, And All The Things Regarding Ms. Leading

[4/5] It takes the Dear Hunter majordomo Casey Crescenzo a few songs on his band’s first full-length to move into territory that’s as inspired as where TDH took us with their debut EP last year, Act I: The Lake South, The River North-which is sorta ironic, considering the third song on Act II: The Meaning Of, And All Things Regarding Ms. Leading-where things really pick up-is called “The Lake And The River.” But from there on out, the album goes from haunting and otherworldly (“The Oracles On The Delphi Express”) to utterly fantastic-“The Bitter Suite 1 And 2: Meeting Ms. Leading And Through The Dime” is a chamber indie-pop masterpiece, complete with an instantly memorable piano line and a chorus with as big as the song title. (TRIPLE CROWN/EAST WEST) Casey Lynch