North Carolina-bred producer and session man Jonathan Wilson (Dawes, Will Oldham, Erykah Badu) digs the old shit – like the Mellotron, buttery-toned Hofner bass and '69 Gibson ES 345 electric guitar he uses on this debut. Recorded on analog tape and conceived as a vinyl double LP, Gentle Spirit is a set of gorgeously detailed folk-rock ambles, most over six minutes long. Together they create a seamless mood, the sound of a chill living-room jam session where Wilson, in reality, is often the only player. Classic- rock memes flash like fireflies (see the "Dark Star"-meets-Dark Side of the Moon guitars of "Natural Rhapsody") but remain just out of reach. It's a vintage sound determined to live in the present.

Listen to "Gentle Spirit":

Related
• Photos: The Week's Hottest Live Shots

“Youth Knows No Pain”

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”