Believers

Taking a cue from the noir theatrics of the Twilight Singers, A.A. Bondy creates a third solo album that takes the Americana of his earlier works and blends them with reverb and subtle arrangements that summon the American Night that Jim Morrison once hailed. Co-producer Rob Schnapf deserves credit for providing Bondy with the platform and the surreal touches that make songs such as “The Heart Is Willing,” “Skull & Bones” and “The Twist” sound as much like dreams (in a David Lynch film!) as songs. Drummer Benjamin Lester and bassist Macey Taylor keep things basic, providing a safety net, so Bondy can soar without hesitation. “Rt. 28/Believers” takes to the highway in a mildly inebriated state. “Down In the Fire (Lost Sea)” turns the psychedelic shimmer of Mazzy Star into a forlorn moan. It’s a long way since his days in the Southern grunge band Verbena, and the Kurt Cobain comparisons are in the distance as well. But there’s still a desperate soulfulness here that makes even the simplest songs cut far deeper than expected.