Following the example of his 2019 debut's untidy blend of country-rock, folk, and 1970s songwriter pop, Dark Tea's Gary Canino returns with a similarly easygoing tone and homespun spirit alongside more-personal lyrics on the also-titled Dark Tea. Whereas the debut involved the participation of Woods' Jarvis Taveniere and Hand Habit's Meg Duffy, both of whom suggest an accurate sonic territory, the follow-up features songs produced by Matt Barrick of the Walkmen, an early inspiration of Canino's. Also contributing production in various recording locales were Paco Cathcart (Eyes of Love), Ryan Howe (Punks on Mars), and Jason Quever (Papercuts) as well as primary producer Sasha Stroud. It opens with the reassuringly ambling, country-steeped "Tears Down the Road," whose jaunty piano, drawling country bass, and touches of pedal steel underscore reflective lyrics that eventually give way to a wistful, acoustic instrumental outro. While much of the album dwells in a like-minded alternative country-rock, occasional divergences include the dreamy, keyboard-centric "U.S. Blues" and "Losing III," a more-anxious synth pop entry with idiosyncratic surrogate drum tones. Dark Tea closes on the trippier "Finally on Time," a ballad vaguely descended from "Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane" with layered vocal harmonies, spacy delay, and -- counterbalancing the opener -- dreams of getting back on the road. Along the way, album highlights include the uptempo, twilight-hued "Highway Mile," whose bittersweet electric guitar solo is further tempered by soft flügelhorn and cross-stick drum rhythms, and the epic "Down for the Law," which clocks in at over seven minutes. Throughout, Canino's conversational, melody-suggesting vocals offer the intimacy of fireside hangout even on the more jam-minded tunes. ~ Marcy Donelson, Rovi

1		Tears Down the Road
2		Highway Mile
3		Deanna
4		US Blues, Pt. 1
5		US Blues, Pt. 2
6		The End
7		Down for the Law
8		Losing III
9		Eternal Blue
10		Timing
11		Take the Fall
12		Finally on Time

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