Transient (Velvet Ed Music, 2002)

The Coming Grass, a Portland, Maine combo, packs a lot of rough-hewn charm onto its music. If listening to this disc reminds you of Blue Mountain, the husband-and-wife team of Cary Hudson and Laurie Stirratt, well, there's good reason. The Coming Grass features husband-and-wife team Nate Schrock and Sara Cox, and also sports former Wilco/Uncle Tupelo drummer Ken Coomer on drum.

But let's leave the comparisons behind. "Transient" alternates Cox's sweet but seductive vocals with Schrock's more jangly and jarring compositions. Tracks like "4th Child" and "Stowaway" pack the requisite country twang, but also carry enough rootsy stomp to keep you along for the ride. It's old, it's new, it's familiar, it's strange...and it's interesting listening all the way through.