Now, is that love songs that are lost -- if so, may they stay that way; there are too many of them already -- or songs of lost love? (The latter presumably would require a hyphen linking "lost" and "love.") I'm sure the three guys at the core of the Pine Hearts, based in the Pacific Northwest's alt-music scene (in this instance, Olympia, Washington's), had tongues firmly in cheek when they set out under that title to wax the 13 originals, each the work of member Joey Capoccia, that comprise Lost Love Songs.

Stylistically, the album is a hybrid of country-pop and modern bluegrass, plus the occasional smooth-folk shading. A musician is said to be a "violin" player, though you will likely think the instrument in question more resembles a fiddle, in a rare hint of arguable authenticity. The "violin" identification, however, may function to reduce echoes -- albeit few -- of distant, rougher, rural origins in the oldtime string bands that preceded bluegrass and country.

Those who know their music may sense that one or two or possibly three somebodies (including the guest players) associated with the project might recognize a name like Charlie Poole on one end or Mac Wiseman on the other. Though this isn't rock by any reasonable definition, it surely owes a debt to the country-rock outfits that flourished a few decades ago. Poco comes to mind.

The vocals are sweet and slightly country (which is to say slightly nasal). The melodies are decently constructed, and the overall effect is ... I guess cozy would cover it. Meanwhile, nothing profound is going on, just capable musicianship and workmanlike execution of the Pine Hearts' idea of how they want to sound. It turns out they want to sound welcome and unobtrusive while they're visiting your ears. Nothing wrong with that, unless your own preferences and expectations demand more.

[ visit the Pine Hearts' website ]