Detroit. The rise to fame of The White Stripes has led the city to be considered a central hub of the current phase of garage rock that has taken over. However, despite the Motor City’s strong affiliation with boisterous rock and roll, the new self-titled debut from Deadstring Brothers presents a collection of Americana so authentic you’d never guess it came from Michigan.

At the root of Deadstring Brothers are singer/guitarist Kurt Marschke and Peter Ballard a pedal steel player. Since their initial formation as a two-piece in 2001, the group has expanded into a quintet with the additions of keyboardist Aric Karpinski, drummer William King, and Philip Skarich on bass, backing vocals, and additional percussion. The result is a full, confident sound from a band that despite not necessarily fitting in with its conceived environment has managed to feel right at home opening for performers such as Cat Power and the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash.

After the initial wind-up on the opening track "I’m Not a Stealer," a composition showing the effectiveness of open space in an arrangement, Deadstring Brothers dives right into "27 Hours" and reveal the somber tone that will cover the greater part of the album. While not quite as dismal in tone as "It Takes Love" and closing track "The Long Black Veil," Ballard’s pedal steel creates an equally reflective atmosphere. There are a couple of notable deviations from the sort of pensive ambiance on those tracks, the first being "Entitled" in which the steady rhythm of the band is paired with Marschke stating "you may not yet know who I am but I can tell you are a fucking sham" in a boastful voice not present anywhere else on the album. While "Entitled" may deviate from the rest of the tracks the greatest, it is "I Know You Dear" that shows the most promise. With a constant rhythmic trot and ethereal keyboards, the track maintains a cinematic feel throughout that is simply captivating and makes the entire album worthwhile.