[rating=2.00]
When Vetiver debuted in 2004 they were instantly lumped in with the genre-bending freak-folk movement. As they began sharing stages with such acts as Joanna Newsom and Devandra Bandhardt, their similar ethos of experimenting outside of the oftentimes puritanical boundaries of mellow, mostly acoustic folk music became increasingly apparent. The Errant Charm, Vetiver’s fifth full-length album (and second with Sub Pop) continues a process that began with Tight Knit, moving the band away from this unorthodox folk into more traditionally structured California pop. Overall, most of the album has a subdued and gossamer mood, but to its credit, there is also an eclectic mix of breezy, sanguine arrangements combined with robust moments like “Ride, Ride, Ride that recalls an A.M.–era Wilco.
The Errant Charm gets off to a flaccid start however with “It’s Beyond Me”, a boring track consisting of gently strummed acoustic guitar and whispered vocals that ultimately fail to coalesce. “Can’t You Tell” builds some momentum with a cool backbeat but this trend breaks down by the next song, “Hard to Break”. Here singer songwriter Andy Cabic seems to decide the album will settle into a modern Eagles-like formula; pleasant enough melodies, quality songwriting, but completely innocuous. There is a host of well-intentioned talent to spare on The Errant Charm like the well crafted “Right Away”’ and the Ritchie Valens guitar sound on “The Faint Praise”. Unfortunately, these two exceptions don’t have the stylistic panache or aural power to justify the album as worthy of much attention.
