Cassadaga – the name of a spiritualist community in central Florida – follows Conor Oberst s 2005 double helping of material that promised to take this 20-something maverick s poetic and musical ability to the masses. They missed the commercial bullseye,

Cassadaga - the name of a spiritualist community in central Florida - follows Conor Oberst's 2005 double helping of material that promised to take this 20-something maverick's poetic and musical ability to the masses.

They missed the commercial bullseye, but Cassadaga reveals a folksy Americana that will likely do rather better.

He's still a wordy and clever lyricist, but the catchy chorus of first single Four Winds indicates a return to the fleshed-out and tuneful, while his rant for the also-rans in Soul Singer In A Session Band possibly signpost where he's been and where he's headed next.

4/5