Divorce Drive to Goldenhammer

The stories behind Divorce's fully formed debut, Drive to Goldenhammer, may initially speak to anyone who lives in the specific region in which they live. And that, to an extent, is a strength for a band not afraid of admitting it. After all, the Nottingham quartet got inspired by a fictional refuge in the East Midlands to write these grand, heart-on-sleeve indie rock songs. For anyone outside of that specific milieu, a fair comparison is the suburban world-building of The Suburbs. But look past the specific finer points, and you'll find some of the most euphoric, off-the-cuff anthems that speak a universal truth. Whether it's Americana-leaning lamentations (Old Broken String) or joyful, fiddle-accentuated loving expressions (Antarctica), the band commits to widescreen dynamics without going overboard. The more rock-oriented highlight Hangman poses the conventional chorus “I wanna lift you up,” and you believe every single word. Outside of some slight bloat that nears The Lumineers' territory, the bulk of the album is far too open and compassionate to ignore.