Considering the disparity of his previous projects and a musical palate that’s run the gamut from punk to pensive, grunge to psychedelia, it ought to come as no surprise to find Stephen McBean again falling prey to wanderlust. Outside Love provides the latest chapter in his extended sojourn away from his day job with critical faves Black Mountain, while also offering a retreat to the slightly more refined environs of Pink Mountaintops. This, their third album, finds them keeping their connections to the home team via the occasional cosmic excursion, while boosting their accessibility regimen overall. Veering from the emphatic (“Axis: Thrones of Love,” ”Execution”) to the ethereal (the descriptively-titled “While We Were Dreaming” and “Closer to Heaven”), the music employs swelling choruses and atmospheric enhancements to stunning effect. McBean shows a fondness for languid Neil Young-like intonations – “Vampire” and “And I Thank You” are similarly somber in that regard – but Pink Mountaintops prove themselves a compelling bunch even in deliberation mode. Its telling too that their album cover attempts to replicate the jacket of a Danielle Steele novel, because Outside Love shows an aptitude for being both torrid and tenacious. (Jagjaguwar)
