Customer Reviews

Arches & Aisles

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first album in which the Spinanes (basically Rebecca Gates) employs the help of a full band. Her previous two releases were just her and her drummer. Ths album has a more colorful sound. It's dreamy and folky everywhere but it also has a very modern sound. The first track just busts out with a Casio keyboard and and then a killer riff and lyrics about the beauty of California. "Den Trawler" is all about a "sentimental fool" who is too busy thinking about his losses that he misses the the clock striking twelve on New Year's Eve. "72-73" describes a woman putting herself together after dating the world's biggest prick. It's a perfect album for anyone with ears and a heart. And the whole thing ends with Rebecca scolding her man with the cool line "That's not how a man acts. Is that what you are?" It's an awesome and lovely testament to falling in and out of love and hovering in the spaces between.

I have been listening to this album since it came out, and I still love it as much as ever.

Rebecca Gates captured a great spirit of vitality and youth culture vibe, as hip and melodic as anything by Sonic Youth, Liz Phair, or the Lemonheads, to name a few of her stylistic peers.

Sensual, intimate, playful, emotional, and honest are the chief traits of this album, which starts with a playful bang (see video on Youtube) in Kid In Candy, then proceeds through a collection of songs that you'll mostly want to listen to in private. At least that's how it makes me feel, like I'm having a conversation with one of my college girlfriends. Believe me, it's a great thing. Rebecca captured all these things with uncompromising writing. The kind one does only in a solo project.

If you ever read this, Rebecca, Thank You for this beautiful album.

My favorite album. I can't believe how many times I've listened to this. Lovely, evocative and complex. Brings me to tears on a regular basis. Accessible and mysterious at the same time. I'll stop before I get even more gooey.

I really dug their first two records and always hoped they'd expand their sound. Here it is.

Getting into their last two releases, I was really drawn into the simple (guitar and drums (the really great Scott Plouf (who is now in Built to Spill-a super addition to that fabulous combo)structures of Rebecca Gates songs. But here she's expanded her sound (without, sadly, I guess, Plouf's drumming)and the band is that much more expressive. Each tune sound like they've spent days on it. This stuff is really laid back, very thoughtful, dreamy (not in a Codeine or a Low way), and intelligent music. This record sounds like a female fronted Sea and Cake (thanks to a vibe put down by Sam Prekop and John McIntire on a couple of tunes that, then, runs through the entire document). R. Gates is a talent which, hopefully, will keep on.

The writing is solid on this as is the minimalist pop playing of her new bandmates.

Smooth, but utterly original and accomplished.

Sadly Spinanes critical success has not yet been met by the commercial success this album clearly deserves. It's eclectic and shows musician and lyricist Rebecca Gates varied talents. Gates is proud of her indie status, but it sure would be nice if she'd cross over and give more folks the pleasure of her astute perspective of life.

a warmer, expansive sound; easier listening than the bleak and difficult 'strand,' but not the aggressive, noisy, punky sound of 'manos' either. the first track insinuates itself under the skin, and the rest of the album never quite lets go. to my surprise, zipping along the freeway on a hot quiet day, this is the cd i find myself listening to, and never removing from my car. while track 1 may be the strongest, 5, 6 and 8 are also compelling. gates' deliberately withheld moments of melodic relief and release require patience, but are worth the while.

This is a great album that can be good with a picnic on a sunny day, a candle on a rainy night, or a little late night steam. You pick your groove and drop into the sound of it. Part Casandra Wilson, part Mazzy Star, and part Yo La Tengo, this equation adds up to a powerful record.

Arches and Aisles could have been great, but unfortunately, it's not. The first four tracks are gorgeous, but over the course of the rest of the album, the music slides into mediocrity. Nothing bad, just nothing spectacular.