Little Hell - City and Colour

"I'm like a jack of all trades who's a master of none," Dallas Green sings on his third City and Colour album, Little Hell. He's just being modest, I promise. City and Colour always puts out staggeringly beautiful music, and this latest effort is no exception. It's safe to say Green has mastered the art of making gorgeous acoustic songs, whether he realizes it or not.

Listening to Little Hell is like getting an intimate look into Green's personal life, from his fears of inadequacy to his sister's mental health issues. As a result, it's virtually impossible not to be moved after hearing tracks such as the simplistic yet lush "Northern Wind" and the passionate "The Grand Optimist." Green is also the frontman for post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, so he uses City and Colour as his outlet for dealing with softer reflections on life's struggles - a therapy of sorts. And somehow, he makes the raw pain and suffering sound so pretty. That's skill for you.

The album is musically familiar enough that old fans should be quite pleased. A few songs, like "Fragile Bird" and "Hope For Now" are fuller and more electric, so they shake the collection up a little bit. Green has certainly found his niche in the folky singer-songwriter genre, yet still manages to progress creatively at the same time.

Really, I have no complaints. This album is lovely. Dallas, I hate for you to be unhappy and I wish you the best for getting through these issues, but please, don't stop writing such genuinely honest music.