Graham Wilkinson & the Underground Township

Graham Wilkinson & the Underground Township

Although Graham Wilkinson's stylistic diversity at times makes his sophomore offering ungovernably eclectic, his persistent vision of optimistic inclusiveness is admirable. Yearbook opens strafing gritty guitar roots-rock on "Water Towers and Windmills," the dreadlocked local's raw, Waitsian voice rolled in Oklahoma red dirt, but changes course with the Ray LaMontagne-esque soul of "Sunrise" and overly emphatic reggae of "Boys & Girls." The album settles somewhat with "Personality Disorder" and steel-guitar twanged standout "Ragamuffin," which draws Hayes Carll into the fold. While Wilkinson's aesthetic remains defiantly hopeful, it emerges most powerfully in moments of vulnerability like "Momma, Protect Me," "Blame," and the brooding, building strings on the Alejandro Escovedo-aided "Ghosts." Mixed with the tender charm of "Star Blue," hand-clapped romp "Our First Night," and lo-fi piano coda "Blank Pages," Wilkinson proves an inspired artist, if still trying to fully harness his talent.