released December 12, 2009 

"Sweet Heartache" is a thousand-and-one things. It's the perfect album to put on when you're chatting with friends about everything and nothing. It's the perfect album to put on when you're drifting off to sleep. It's the perfect album to put on when the world has you riled up and you need nothing more than something deeply calming. It's the perfect album to put on when you've got a six-hour drive ahead of you. But it's also the perfect album to put on when you want something sophisticated that can assume all your attention. 

Warren Pratten and Mark Favro are both sons of members of the Nihilist Spasm Band, and they grew up in an environment infused with music. But the contrast between their father's band and their own couldn't possibly be greater. Their album is calming, mellow, and melodic. 

The changes from track to track are just subtle enough to keep you on your feet while still giving the entire album the feel of a unified whole. Some of them are mellow enough to put you to sleep. Others are danceable. Others have a kind of mystical feel. All of them are long, repeating certain musical patterns over and over again until they work their way into your consciousness. 

After five minutes the rest of the world disappears and nothing exists but that pattern. 

You don't mind, though. The pattern is always good. 

By Benjamin Vazquez 

CHRW Music and Promotions Department