In Santa Cruz-based Marty O’Reilly’s most recent LP Stereoscope, he takes Americana to another level, blending delicate violin arrangements with bluesy vocals and soulful harmonies to create something startlingly beautiful. The dynamic songwriting of O’Reilly—who is always joined by bandmates Chris Lynch, Ben Berry, and Matt Goff—takes the listener by surprise, as he breaks out of the tropes of his genre that would otherwise restrict such progression. The opening track “Firmament” (streaming below) offers a glimpse into the rest of the album, which is a complicated and well-crafted addition to a genre whose fans constantly think they have finally ‘seen it all.’ Marty O’Reilly and his band are currently on a cross-country tour and will be heading down to SXSW this year. – Lilly Milman
