The Innocence Mission

My Room in the Trees (Badman)

By Catherine McCarthy
Published: August 1st, 2010 | 7:00pm

It’s easy for references to the Innocence Mission to conjure the heyday of mid-‘90s fictional romance born of angst (Empire Records, Party of Five) or their work from the last decade that harkens back to their praise-and-worship roots. The self-released 2008 EP, Street Map, was billed as a preview for the band's next full-length, but its contents were nixed in favor of almost entirely new songs on My Room in the Trees. Thankfully, the Innocence Mission's eighth album is a sweet blend of the forlorn romance and joyful ballads they've built a reputation on.

At first listen, it's hard to detect a song that shines as profoundly as Birds of My Neighborhood's "The Lakes of Canada" (as famously covered by Sufjan Stevens). However, the standout "Rhode Island" encapsulates the perfect melodic orchestration the band's best work exemplifies. Originally recorded as a demo thirteen years ago and released digitally seven years ago, fans will be glad to hear this reworked song made the cut. The jazzy and lush "All the Weather" will make you want to sway at dusk on the porch of an unfamiliar house. Overall, this album is the perfect summer soundtrack to a cool down period at the end of a long day in the sun. Put My Room in the Trees on, watch the fireflies come out, and feel your heart rate slow as a smile creeps across your face.

The Innocence Mission official Web site

The Innocence Mission MySpace page

Badman Recording Co.