Joel Thibodeau of Death Vessel is blessed with a becomingly feminine voice and a fearsome command over the guitar. However, his latest album with Sub Pop, Nothing is Precious Enough For Us, is a sorry case of too much inspiration and not enough innovation.

Listening, you get the uncanny feeling you've heard it before - it's your typical palatably pretty, could be music-from-The OC-sound. Is it Rilo Kiley, is it The Delays? Who knows - but it doesn't sound like it's really him.

Nevertheless, tracks like 'Exploded View' and 'Peninsula' offer insights into brilliance. The heavenly disturbed guitar suggests promise of albums to come, while the finger work, slides and string bends will beckon you to stop and listen. It's equally hard not to adore the Parisian inspired cornet and piano of 'The Widening'.

Although this album is a pretty Providence import, it delivers few standout tunes. But with his Elliot Smith-like voice and hillbilly finger picking, I'll be looking forward to the next release. (Jane Dawson)

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