You may have seen them lurking in such venues as Wonderland in Columbia Heights, or Iota Club in Arlington, VA, or perhaps you read about them in our Three Stars feature back in April where we mentioned that Alec and his band were in the process of putting together a follow-up to their last full length album, What Lasts. With their latest LP, Win?orLose?, Alec Gross and the Districts pose yet another question, and one which we hope to answer after indulging in this fresh batch of Americana/whiskey rock.

The CD opens with two of the faster, more upbeat tracks on the album. Where “Heart Attack” ironically fails to provide that hook and energy to lead in the listener, the title track and “Oh, Little Girl” seem to build on the repetitive sound, with a positive progression into something far better. The lyrics and chorus become catchier and more palatable. The album shines at its mellow center, highlighting that which we love about Alec’s music, the acoustic style and vocal range that are best experienced at one of their live shows. “Broken In Two” includes the addition of a harmonica, an element that also seems to be missing from the other tracks, and is proceeded by the real winner of the album, ”Cold Apples.” This folk inspired song will stick with you long after you put away the disc, haunting you with a piano intro and chilling lyrics. The second half of the album marks the return of “Blue-Ribbon Baby” (it also appeared on What Lasts) that works well with the addition of female vocals from Cori Seraydarian. The last two songs are missing the same spark that the beginning lacked, and as far as the fast tracks go, “Piscataway” comes out on top with a vibrant memorable sound from The Districts.

So to answer the question, Win?orLose? makes up for any of its shortcomings with several solid moments that will remind why you bought the CD in the first place, and why you will continue to follow Alec and The Districts as they spread their unique sound to the DC area and beyond.

You can pick up the CD at CD Baby, and be sure to check them out this Friday night at Bistro Europa, 10pm or Saturday night at Revolution Records with Steven Capozzola, 7pm.