Four For Fall

This excellent sampler from North Carolina's Yep Roc Records showcases four of the label's fall releases, including indie vets the Kingsbury Manx (The Fast Rise and Fall of the South), Arkansas newcomers American Princes (Little Spaces), Minnesota singer-songwriter Robert Skoro (That These Things Could Be Ours) and Portland indie-rockers the Standard (Albatross). The Kingsbury Manx have flirted with the indie A-list since forming in 1999, and American Princes and the Standard, in particular, seem poised to join them. Both groups are analogous to New York's Walkmen, with propulsive rhythms (both), piano-inflected melodies (the Standard) and performative, almost campy vocals (check American Princes '"Want to Be Good"). Full-length titles from all four artists are available elsewhere on eMusic.