Known primarily as a jam band,
Tea Leaf Green seize the studio on
In the Wake, their eight studio album. Certainly,
Tea Leaf Green remain committed to some form of jamming at their core -- they still show enormous affection for roots rock and dabble in folk; there's little doubt they honed their skill through countless performances -- but there's an emphasis on production and tricky song structure on
In the Wake that is immediately apparent. By the end of the record,
TLG have flirted with glam rock and vaudeville, stomped out the blues like
Jack White, created a supple homage to '70s soul, and spun out some pure power pop, each stylistic digression flourishing due to the band's exploration of the studio. This gives
In the Wake a greater dimension than past
TLG records -- and, with three separate enumerated songs about a "Space Hero," there is a lingering sense that this could be a concept album, but that's never really clear -- and that makes it rewarding for listeners who have spent time with the band and alluring for those just getting to know this multi-faceted group.