Artist: Dylan Michael Bentley

Artist: Dylan Michael Bentley

Link: https://www.facebook.com/dylanmichaelbentley

On his most recent Rebel Without a Clue, Dylan Michael Bentley begins by running from constraints, only to find himself out-paced by people he'd rather hang onto.

The album opens upbeat, with "Rebel Without a Clue" and "Mind Over Matter" set to a steady rhythm by robust acoustic-strumming reminiscent of Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons. When he down-shifts, Bentley's serving up nuanced guitar patterns on "Mama's Little Heartbreaker" and "A-Poundin' and A-Bouncin'," suggesting a Jeff Tweedy or Dave Pirner without aping a Wilco or Soul Asylum.

Of his many influences in folk, indie, alt-country and Americana, Bentley resembles Bright Eyes the most, conjuring intimacy through minimal instrumentation, unvarnished vocals, and relatively straight-forward accounts unencumbered by metaphor or simile. Add to this sphere of influence the blues: We get a nice flash of it on the blues-tinged "Save My Soul."

But it's the down-tempo sections of "A-Poundin' and A-Bouncin'" that feature Bentley at his finest -- in the calm, we're a captive audience for his romantic guitar flourish and charming lyrical delivery.

*** The author of this review, Edward Robinson, plays the balaban for the following band: http://youtu.be/tMS73-1kCr8