On American Kestrel, Saturnine prove to be the overachieving children of R.E.M. and the Byrds pure and simple. While American Kestrel is no Automatic for the People or Sweethearts of the Rodeo, it is a glorious dose of upbeat jangly pop, with infectious and inventive melodies.

Recorded at Marlborough Farms with Gary Olson (Ladybug Transistor) at the helm, Saturnine’s sound and gentle, impressionist lyrics of places and people share a similar sensibility with Ladybug Transistor’s stellar pastoral pop, last heard on The Albemarle Sound. More jovial than last year’s gem Mid the Green Fields, Saturnine has sped up the tempos and tightened the harmonies. The result is one of the finest pop albums of the year.