Flock Of Dimes

Typically, a solo set from a member of a relatively young local band doesn’t exactly incite Beatles-on-Sullivan levels of salivating fandom over at The A.V. Club. But if you ask us—or take a look at the #1 spot our 2011 Best of Music—Baltimore duo Wye Oak and its singer/guitarist Jenn Wasner are far from typical. As Flock Of Dimes, Wasner still sings like a sad-eyed choirgirl, but her ghostly warble now floats atop a bed of astral drones made up of chirping synths, sinewy layers, and intriguing, pop-influenced chord changes. Her riffs still come in mesmerizing circles, but Wasner takes full advantage of the openness that comes with going solo. “Prison Bride” breaks up mechanical precision for a cascading piano break, and tracks like "Icy" smother her multi-tracked vocals under piles of effects. Written and recorded in between tours in a restless, two-week flurry, Wasner’s five tracks hint at a worthy solo career—plans for a full-length are in the works—and an exciting future for an already exciting band.