Who? Norman, Oklahoma-bred psych rockers Evangelicals features singer/guitarist Josh Jones, bassist/keyboardist Kyle Davis and drummer Austin Stephens (Guitarist Todd Jackson joins 'em on the road). Having toured together since issuing 2006's So Gone, The Evening Descends -- out Jan. 22 via the Dead Oceans label -- marks the Evangelicals' first collective songwriting effort as a trio.

What's the Deal? Tearing down the day song-by-song as The Evening Descends, Evangelicals draw from their Okie idols the Flaming Lips, using everything from pop, soul, prog, and psychedelia to create arrangements that bleed into open skies, sounding like the weird uncanny cousins of Band of Horses. Fluttering guitars grace the backdrop of "Midnight Vignette," a disorienting yet enchanting evocation of musical colors. "Skeleton Man" is a crooning pop song that seeks to distort almost as much as it does to charm, and the anthemic prog-disco trip "Party Crashin'" unfolds into a rush of transcendent vocals and shimmering instrumentation; this is music that needs air, great lakes, and wide open spaces to appreciate.

Fun Fact: Prior to writing and recording under the Evangelicals moniker, frontman Josh Jones worked as a guitar tech for Mooney Suzuki. 

Now Hear This:
Evangelicals - "Skeleton Man" DOWNLOAD MP3

On the Web:
Evangelicals at MySpace

Talk: Which Evangelic synth sequence makes you speak in tongues?