The post-rock, folk-blues unit returns—Chicago lost a great one when leader Tim Rutili relocated to Los Angeles in 2005, but, thankfully, he decided to keep the band together. This fall sees the release of “Roots & Crowns” on Thrill Jockey, the band’s follow-up to 2004’s well-received “Heron King Blues,” which garnered the band its best sales and critical appreciation—and whose bluesy invention and abstractness, lyrical and musical, cannot be denied. But, 2003’s “Quicksand/Rattlesnakes” still serves as Califone’s highest achievement so far, a mix of the band’s heady experimentation and Tim Rutili’s softer, folk-inspired acoustic ramblings, his scruffy, enticing voice leading the charge. On stage, Califone’s improvisational freakouts mesmerize from start to finish—don’t miss a minute of this. (Tom Lynch)
