[The Maldives] sound - an evocative, oft-haunted confluence of acoustic strumming, mournful pedal steel and violin, regal piano, the occasional ragged electric-guitar outburst, and the rabbity-voiced lyrics of a lonely, soul-troubled singer - is a familiar one to anybody who's spent quality time with Neil Young, the Band, or Gram Parsons. It's a time-honored style of music that's been updated by countless contemporary artists, but unlike, say, My Morning Jacket or even Band of Horses, The Maldives don't paint the tradition with indie-rock colors.