Shawn Jones, aka the Lovely Sparrows

Who? As the project of singer/songwriter and music teacher Shawn Jones, Austin's the Lovely Sparrows roll tender layers of brass, strings, and woodwinds over a brisk folk foundation. A storyteller first and foremost, Jones takes his cues from bookish, introspective acts like Belle and Sebastian, and in this exclusive clip for "Year of the Dog" bright colored paper animation reenacts his tender words in a fairy tale reverie. When the song assumes a more lively, percussive bounce, the performer's likeness strums along in abstract form, capturing the earnest innocence of the tune.

Their latest: The quartet debuted with a five song EP, Pulling Up Floors, Pouring on (New) Paint, in late 2006, and will drop their first full-length, Bury The Cynics, digitally Aug. 19 with a physical release to follow Sept. 9.

Recommended if you like… Neutral Milk Hotel, Nick Drake, Elvis Perkins

Now Watch This: Lovely Sparrows, "Year of the Dog"