The opening phrases of "From Miles Away" instantly clue listeners in to the fact that they are about to hear something of remarkable beauty. Jolie Lindholm's sugary vocals make for immediate stylistic comparisons to the Sundays, Kristen Hersch and Lisa Loeb. Although such comparisons indicate the kind of heart-felt songs you'll find here, the pleasure of listening to this disc makes them fade quickly. Beginning with "From Miles Away", the quartet instantly draws you in with Lindholm's candied croon, which overlays the agitated interplay between bassist Jeronimo Gomez and drummer Matt Crum. Henry Olmino's guitar switches from simple strumming in the verse to a soaring slide in the chorus, capturing the same adrenaline rush of a glider catching an updraft. The contrast between the band's indie-rock styling and Lindholm's pop is simply intoxicating.

Even more impressive is the quartet's ability to sustain this energy throughout the album. Moving from the pogo of "Atmosphere" to the waltz of "Until Next Time", the band makes every transition with seamless ease. The maturity of their songwriting is most clearly evidenced by "Elementary". A mid-tempo rock beat opens the song with Olmino's simple yet effective guitar work. Once again, Lindholm offers a gut-wrenching vocal line centering on burgeoning love: "It starts with you because you say you're so easy to talk to/ And if you want me, then I'll run with every word." While the song's momentum cries for it to rachet up a notch in the chorus, the band achieves the same effect by quieting during the bridge, then returning to the original tempo. This excellent move maintains a consistency in the song without pushing it into rock excess, while still achieving the same emotional effect. This use of restraint imparts a sense of bundled desire and is key to the music's soul.

Other fine tracks are equally skillful at achieving the contradictory sensation of barely maintained abstention and satisfying fulfillment. While all of the member's more than satisfy their roles in the music, of particular note is Crum's drumming, which incorporates jazzy signatures and solid fills. This elevates the songs to an even more impressive level and makes State of Feeling Concentration a smashing album.