I screwed up and didn't sneak 'em into this week's Critics' Picks as I should have, but I want to offer a humble recommendation that you check out instrumental rock quintet Saxon Shore, who will be coming to town Friday. This is sweeping, swooping, surging, emotional music that lifts you up, flies you over a few mountains, knocks the wind out of you and finally sets you down safely. Go here and have a listen to a few tracks from their new album, The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore (produced by Flaming Lips/Sleater-Kinney knob-twiddler Dave Fridmann), if you don't believe me. They're playing at The End at 8 PM Friday evening, along with Anathallo and Forget Cassettes (it's the latter's final Nashville show of the year, btw).