REVIEWSJay Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard, ‘One Fast Move or I'm Gone’

7

• SPIN Rating:7 of 10

• • Listen:

    Spotify

Label: F-Stop/Atlantic

The Son Volt and Death Cab for Cutie frontmen (respectively) go spare on this tribute to Jack Kerouac's 1962 novel Big Sur, wedding text from the chronicle of a writer's alcoholic breakdown to simple melodies and instrumentation. Gibbard, who already wrote a terrific song inspired by Kerouac on Death Cab's Narrow Stairs, delivers a fey yin to Farrar's more downcast baritone twang, which means his contributions -- including the best of this bunch, "Willamine" -- feel lighter, even when the words aren't. A dark lark, but worth a listen.

BUY: