"It's been a weird year."

So says One Lone Car to explain the lyrical darkness of the band's sophomore release, North, South, East and the Rest. Whereas their debut CD, Variety Hour, was an upbeat swirl of sounds and schemes, the new disc shows a depth, a maturity to the St. Louis-based quartet's songwriting and arranging.

Backing up Aaron Kellim (vocals, guitar) are Michael Hickey (bass), Neal Klein (guitar) and Andy Herrin (drums). One Lone Car has been together just a couple of years; its members are largely self-taught. Their songwriting process is simple: everyone else collaborates.

North, South's 11 songs (10 officially, plus one hidden track) were recorded at Gin Blossoms' frontman Robin Wilson's Uranus Studios and engineered by Jamie Woolford (Gin Blossoms, The Actual). The Gin Blossoms' connection is one that bears repeating: One day, Andy left a message at Uranus Studios and Robin happened to hear it. He listened to the music on MySpace, liked it and called Andy back. Robin soon became one of the band's biggest fans, inviting one Lone Car to open for his reunited Gin Blossoms last fall, and again this spring.

Yet this connection with their idols should not overshadow One Lone Car's sheer talent, their songs' simple brilliance. Combining passion and melodrama, One Lone Car craft rich soundscapes punctuated by witty pop hooks and haunting, heartfelt lyrics. There's a theatrical-ness, both to the songs and the live performance; whether Aaron's singing full throttle or stroking sounds from his guitar, he's a captivating frontman backed by passionate and in-synch musicians.

Call it a combination of self-belief, of growth, of turning struggles into inspiration. Or, hell, call it what it is: undeniable talent realized.