As recently as the summer of 2004, Saxon Shore seemed finished. Founder Matt Doty found himself without a drummer and bassist, and flirting with the idea of getting a day job. But by the beginning of this year, Doty had found new members, and the new arrangement has served Saxon Shore well. Its new album, The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore, is the bands most fully realized yet, full of lush, moody instrumentals with enough dynamics to remaing engaging even without vocals.