Sera Cahoone - Only as the Day is Long

Sera Cahoone
Only as the Day is Long
Sub Pop Records
Grade: A-

Sera Cahoone begins Only as the Day is Long with “You Might as Well,” a clear take on Iron & Wine with finger-picking acoustic guitar and rollicking rhythms. Even if Cahoone were only a female version of Sam Beam it would be fantastic, but instead Cahoone adds her own voice and talents across her ten-song second album. Foremost amongst differences is Cahoone adding more country and alt-country flavors to her anthems. Given that Cahoone previously assisted Band of Horses as well as the earlier Carissa Wierd on drums, the exposure to the alt-country is thick. After the warming “You Might as Well,” Cahoone excels on the sublime pedal steel of “Baker Lake,” the build-up and vocal cadence on the title track, the haunting “The Colder the Air,” the rocking “Happy When I’m Gone,” and slow closer “Seven Hours Later.” Only as the Day is Long is the perfect album to play in the background to your lazy summer afternoon on the porch.