The Shaky Hands - Lunglight (2008)

The kind of jittery, sun-dappled indie rock that the Shaky Hands makes might seem easy, but the way the Portland band incorporates just the right number of rickety elements consitutes a tricky balancing act. The rhythmic propulsiveness of the songs is unhurried but assertive; the nervous energy in tracks like the ragged “Neighbors” and the darkly meditative “No Say” keeps things interestingly off-kilter. It isn’t quite danceable, but it’s the perfect music to tap your pen to while dreaming in your cubicle of an afternoon in the park.