Ancient Forest, Graduation, Darksoft, Sanguine Knight

There’s a fine line between mellow gold and tepid tin in the rock realm, and thankfully, Missoula, Montana, five-piece Ancient Forest align with the former. For every group in the Nick Drake/Pearls Before Swine vein of folky rock, there are dozens of dullards who mistake lassitude for gravitas. On their most recent full-length, 2017’s Richard’s Selections, Ancient Forest master an introspective strain of burbling songcraft that eases tensions and evokes the green sanctuary their name suggests. It’s full of deep, lo-fidelity pleasures.