Husband-and-wife team Matthew and Melissa DeOrazio met in New Orleans in late 2005 and soon after formed the band Sweet Jones. Magnolia, the duo’s second full-length release, features all original compositions except for one cover, Linda Perry’s “What’s Up.”[iframe class=”spotify-right” src=”https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:4DQWZsdh4CyIQMGSBcSdFV” width=”300″ height=”380″ frameborder=”0″ allowtransparency=”true”]Buy on Amazon
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Though songs such as “Long Time Coming” and “Love Remains” feel like treading water, “This Bird” is built on a much stronger melody and harbors a lot of sincerity.

Both take turns on vocals, Matthew’s melancholy, blues-tinged delivery contrasting with Melissa’s honeyed songbird voice. She excels on “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone,” the CD’s best cut.

Sweet Jones’ regular lineup of Abe Frishman on bass, James Clark on drums and Keith Burnstein on keyboards appears on the album.