The sophomore album from indie dreamers, Great Northern, is just what the doctor ordered on a rainy Chicago day. Rachel Stolte's ethereal lead vocals are nurtured by Solon Bixler's accompaniment.

As was the case with their first album, "Trading Twilight For Daylight", each song has a tinge of sadness that is all-encompassing as a listener - but without going completely overboard thanks to a hopeful guitar riff or mandolin strum.

The band had this to say about their album, "We took a lot more risks by entering uncomfortable territory that wasn't touched on the last record. We dug deeper into the unpleasant, which helped us to find the beauty." Mission accomplished! It's kind of like an enjoyable Todd Solondz film but without the outwardly disturbing imagery.

One of my favorites on this album is the song "Houses" (not to be confused with "Home" from their previous album). If you're looking for a song that reflects the sound of Great Northern, this is it.