Staff Picks: Cass McCombs - The Tip Of The Sphere

For fans of: Smart & subtle folk-rock with a slight psychedelic side.

What they're saying: Praised round the critic-sphere; Rolling Stone’s Will Hermes hears a lot of Jerry Garcia, The Guardian calls it engrossing and complex, and courtesy of Pitchfork’s review the artist himself says “My music is a response to the music that I love.”

What we say: A fine addition to a sprawling and endlessly relistenable catalog. The band is indeed on a longer leash, and Dead comparisons are a fine reference point, but its not simply a retro record. Cass has a one-of-a-kind songwriting perspective too. (GB)

Further listening: Hear the artist work-shopping some of his new sounds with his side-band (featuring some Beachwood Sparks characters) The Skiffle Players. And maybe it is time to revisit The Grateful Dead’s late 70s folk-rock groover From The Mars Hotel.