Nord Express: Loveland 1995-2005

Spread over a decade, and featuring material from previous EPs and unreleased material, Baltimore group Nord Express present light, airy pop nuggets the Go-Betweens would be proud of. At least that’s the initial reaction one gets from the pretty and polished “Gem You Sold” and the warm, inviting “Tripleplay” which flows along perfectly. “Tripleplay” also sounds as if could be Lou Reed getting up on the right song of the bed. Another slice of great indie-rock comes along with “Crazy”, a song that picks up steam despite being a downer of a ditty overall. However, this pales in comparison to the quirky but extremely strong melody fueling the opening moments of “Looking Up”. Nord Express seem as if they could conjure up these songs in their sleep with the rather heady vibe of “Fingerlakes” showcasing another side of the band. Just as delightful is the somber “Wealth of Nations” with the group content to squeeze every ounce from the toe-tapping, roots-pop harmonies. Toss in another treat entitled “King of the Block” and it’s hard not to fall in love with this lovely album.