Supergroups are a strange beast. Taking numerous good things and amalgamating them can either create one great thing or a muddled mess of songwriting styles and ego. Here we’re taking two great things as members of Manchester Orchestra, the indie rock darlings, and Kevin Devine, the indie folk rock troubadour combine into one functioning band. This all sounds very compatible and fairly interesting on paper and despite a shaky start of sorts, the record eventually opens up into an interesting, if slightly meandering excursion into alternative rock.

The issue with this record is that it takes until the fifth track to actually start sounding like collaboration. The first and third tracks are written by Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull, the second and fourth being attributed to Kevin Devine, and the split is glaringly obvious, jarring even, as it flits from fuzzy indie rock to sweet acoustic folk.

It isn’t until the Devine penned “Holding Down The Laughter” and “You Wouldn’t Have To Ask” that borders start to become blurred and the record picks up because of it. The collaboration aspect of the record emerges as Devine veers into upbeat rock and Hull retires to languid acoustic strumming on “I Begged You Everything” and “Texas.” It’s relatively confusing and doesn’t always work, but it’s a noble idea and forces the listener to regard the record as a single piece of work from start to finish as opposed to singular tracks ripe for individual download.

The slower folk tracks work far better than the upbeat alternative rock cuts and it’s fairly obvious that this is a record made by two individuals, but sticking with it will reveal interesting songwriting, compelling ideas and a handful of great songs, mainly from Kevin Devine.

Conclusion? A great idea with lacklustre execution.