“Noisemaker” opens the album as a promising alternative rock up-tempo jive. Two Hours Traffic however is an Americana/folk-rock band so be sure not to be misled by their occasional power-pop jams. But that’s not a derogatory statement as they actually write catchy songs in both veins. Their power-pop rock songs are uptempo knee stompers with fun-filled catchiness and high amounts of energy. “Territory” has plenty of the music you’ve come to expect from the Canadian quartet too. Songs like “Jezebel”, “Sing a Little Hymn”, and “Lost Boys” are more on the roots rock and Americana tip. What is steady throughout is an uncanny ability to write driving and catchy tunes wrapped in a blanket of warm vocal harmonies.

Not many bands are this adventuresome. Venice Is Sinking recorded the entire album live with a sound engineer, a couple of microphones and some analog recording machines. No dubbing or post-production re-recording. The sessions were recorded over four days in May of 2008 at the now-defunct Georgia Theatre. As we’ve come to expect from this stellar band from Athens, “Sand & Lines” is a whirlwind of masterful songwriting and melody expertise. Truly a unique experience, I can only imagine how chaotic and pressuring it was but there’s no sense of urgency heard whatsoever. Instead it’s a relaxed jaunt through alt-country, indie rock, and orchestral pop. Experimental groups that like to tinker with not only their songwriting but also the sound and recording experience are a rare treat. “Pebble Hill” is perhaps the best song on the album with the beautiful vocals and string arrangement though other tunes like “The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don’t Want to Get Over You)” and “Bound By Violets” are also worthy contenders. They got a lot of mentions throughout last year’s SXSW and paraded into 2011 with a lot of triumph behind them and a great future ahead.