Blog: PopMatters

On their second major release, this Seattle-based garage-rock trio clean up their dirt-dragged riff rock and demonstrate an impressive knowledge of their musical roots. In a world where MySpace plays count more than tour bus mileage and blog leaks spread faster than word of mouth, the Blakes, who gained attention after a series of reputably chaotic cross-country tours, are relative anachronisms. Despite receiving the cold shoulder from a blogosphere more inclined to buzz about the latest noise-pop bedroom sensation than extend a towel to wipe the Blakes' sweating brow, the traveling musical railroad men -- bassist Snow Klein, guitarist...