The War on Drugs' love for Bob Dylan becomes apparent the second the album begins, with Adam Granduciel's strangled vocals and Kurt Vile's jangly guitars. But the group is more than just a tribute band.

In addition to taking a bit of direction from the folk icon, the band mixes in '80s-style synths and early '90s noise guitar experimentation to make a sound of their own. There are moments of grandeur, as on the instrumental "Coast Reprise" as well as withdrawn, soft ambience on "Reverse the Charges."

The rest of the album ends up somewhere in between. Upbeat numbers like "Taking the Farm" and "Buenos Aires Beach" turn folk guitar strumming into joyous foot tappers. "Show Me the Coast" and "Barrel of Batteries" are subdued, yet gripping.

The War on Drugs certainly covered a lot of ground on a nine song debut.