Chicago veteran alt indie-rockers Manishevitz have never made kosher food sound so good! Their new long player East to East is an entrancing collection of songs that span experimental rock, bluesy jazz, and some downright funk. Imagine if fellow Chicagoans Califone had taken up fell-fledged rock music–indeed, this is what they’d sound like (you might not believe this but as I looked up the band I found that Joe Adamik of Califone is in the band!!). Intriguing vocals and even catchier guitar riffs make East to East an incredibly captivating and digestible album that will have you mimicing the Dylan-intonated stylings of Ryan Hembrey.

But perhaps what I enjoy the most about the album is the presence of the tenor sax that gets dispersed throughout. “Eiji” is a wonderful dreamy track, with a simply magical elongated instrumental part featuring drizzling pianos in the high range and a seductive sax to complement. “Information Thunder” seems like a more upbeat B-side from Califone, now bursting out of its cocoon into the lovely confines of your ear. Or have a listen to “Southside Hours”, a dramatic experimental symphony with that lovely sax leading the way. Stop lallygagging–go and get your copy of East to East.

Listen to “Eiji” (4.8/5)

Listen to “Information Thunder” (4.6/5) (might want to fast-forward 50 secs )