[Fans of the Aislers Set, Wilco, and Iron & Wine take note.]

The first lyrics on Norfolk & Western's latest release, Unsung Colony, sum up the album well: "Quiet / is how you like it." This Portland, Oregon group's style of indie rock is something fitting for a rainy day (or a warm summer evening when you're at home writing CD reviews instead of drinking beer outdoors like the rest of your friends). Their sound includes a miscellany of genres, mixing bluegrass, post-rock, dream pop, and even a little jazz into solid compositions that make you feel like you should be on a swing set. The range of instruments is impressive—from guitar to accordion to glockenspiel to banjo to strings—and it all works. The album's more upbeat tracks, like "The Shortest Stare" and "The New Rise of Labor," might rouse your inner twee, while the slower ones, like "Barrels on Fire," are dreamy and romantic songs best suited for slow-dancing in the living room. The only weak moment is the track "Atget Waltz," which is reminiscent of creepy carnival music and mariachis. Yet despite this song, the album is beautiful.