New Music Critique: The Cover Letter

We get an instantly fun and free-spirited vibe from Austin quintet, the Cover Letter, whose male/female duets spearhead a tight, organic band that creates a wonderful, life-affirming noise. It’s a hook-heavy sound that would be embraced by fans of Lumineers, Edward Sharpe, Joseph, etc. Chelsea Barbo simply tears up the high note in “Something,” a dynamic song that changes pace and keeps the energy up. We didn’t want it to end! Co-lead singer Jacob Shipman impresses us in “Josephine,” a song whose front porch purity, nimble bass line and overall top-to-bottom clarity gathers for a compelling, harmonica-fueled climax. These folks have an affecting energy, an infectious vibe that grabs you and doesn’t let go.