**1/2 Strangefolk

LORE

(self-released)

Part of the grooving Dead/Phish scene, Vermont's Strangefolk combine contrasting elements of both bands -- Garcia-like blues guitar, Phishy funk jams, and indulgent Dead-like jazz-blues digressions. Their lyrics go for sophomore high jinks, environmental awareness, and coming-of-age heebie-jeebies. The Phish-like " . . . as" describes the exact moment when guilt and regret burst into the morning after a night of heinous partying -- with pop refrains sung in zealous harmony, and lyrics like "I hope last night doesn't wake up this morning and tell tomorrow what I've done." "Speculator," with its spiked lemonade and sexual voyeurism ("a fine, fine day") is delivered in the spirit of a country-rock Dead tune.

The catchy, generic stoner "Rather Go Fishin' " (it says "Have a nice day" and means it), has better music than lyrics. On "Alaska," Jon Trafton mimics the controlled explosiveness of Trey Anastasio's rock guitar, and Reid Genauer's semi-angelic voice could live in the high octaves of the soul/funk tune "Lines and Circles." "Far from Yourself" is a laid-back blues; "Poland" is cool rockabilly pop about seeing one's parents as real people. Lore is a tight, cohesive blend of styles with attractive rough edges. -- Melinda Whitehouse