A few months back, Brazos shared the colorful and inventive stop-motion video for “How the Ranks Was Won,” an easy-going single that appears on the New York City trio’s upcoming sophomore album, Saltwater. Now the Martin Crane-led project has shared the entire full-length, a collection of nine deceptively complex pop tunes that recall the Shins at their most adventurous. Luckily, these chutes aren’t too narrow for Crane’s engrossing wordplay (following his lyrics is like playing a high-stakes game of cat’s cradle), and robust, soft-edged melodies. Slip through Saltwater below.
