For fans of: Fresh interpretations of traditional folk-music.

What they're saying: A review from Pitchfork credits the group for finding a contemporary relevance for the historic material they tackle on this record. And in a four-star review Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter describes the groups approach as such: “The tunes are transformed with fresh, rootsy instrumentation based in tradition yet with updated, sparse arrangements. It helps that Mitchell’s dulcet voice is a sweet combination of Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton as she interprets lyrics of loss and frustration.”

What we say: The Portland supergroup of The Fruit Bats' Eric Johnson, Anaïs Mitchell, and Josh Kaufman hit a sweet-spot for us. They make subtle and beautifully arranged folk-music that has a very northwestern mood to it. A very fresh and re-listenable approach to trad material without re-inventing the wheel.