"The Thief & The Heartbreaker", the song from which the album is titled falls somewhere between Dylan and Petty on appeal, structure and depth. "Lucy Rider" immediately pops off the disc as a stellar star. Perfect for a stumble-filled dance, this song is more therapeutic (and less destructive) than a bottle of Jack for a broken heart. "Why do we always lose what we love?" Yet and still, songs like this never seem to lose relevance. "The Devil's All You Ever Had" ends the 7-song taste of Alberta Cross. Like "Sometimes Salvation", this song is a sermon in the Church of Rock. In fact, when it comes time to sing the title, a choir pitches in.

Alberta Cross needs few dynamic changes to convey the emotions inherent in The Thief & The Heartbreaker. The songs arrive easy, but sneak away with a heart string. The frail, but ranging, vocals and the haphazard, yet timely, guitars guide the listener skillfully through a world where music is what it seems: thoughtful and moving.

Tracks added to iPod: The Thief &The Heartbreaker, Lucy Rider, Low Man, I've Known for Long, The Devil's All You Ever Had