The Wrens

The Wrens formed in New Jersey in the early 1990s with Kevin Whelan on vocals and guitar, his brother Greg on bass, Charles Bissell on guitar, and Jerry MacDonald on drums. They put out their self-titled debut in 1994, followed by 'Secaucus' in 1996. Both records got attention for their detailed arrangements and thoughtful lyrics, though the band's early years weren't easy financially.

After 'Secaucus', things got complicated with their label, and they went quiet for a while. They came back in 2012 with 'The Meadowlands', which felt like a proper return. That album included songs like '13 Months In 6 Minutes' and 'Boys You Won't'. Jerry MacDonald, their drummer since the beginning, had passed away in 2009, so Billy Pavone played drums on the comeback.

Their music has a certain carefulness to it, tracks like 'Built in Girls' and 'Counted on Sweetness' show how they build songs layer by layer without losing the directness. They haven't released much since 'The Meadowlands', but those albums from the '90s and the 2012 record hold up for people who like that kind of patient, guitar-driven indie rock.