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4.0 out of 5 stars
Americana roots meets West Coast rock, May 26, 2008
This review is from: All The Great Aviators Agree (Audio CD)
Though this Portland, Oregon sextet bills itself as an Americana band, that title sells short the complexity of their sophomore CD. Barr's vocals have a gravelly edge, and the pedal steel-and-piano of "Dirty Old Waltz" and two-step rhythm of "Fall Hard" certainly merit the alt.country tag. But the guitar interplay of "Fall Hard" brings to mind vintage Allman Brothers, the melody of "Don't Get So Heavy" has the pop majesty of Badfinger, and the playful introduction and vocal harmonies of "Juanita" resound with the complex constructions of late-60s West Coast pop. Barr's rough-and-tumble voice fits as easily on the Dylanesque guitar-and-harmonica "Mexican Blanket" as on the hot-picked-meets-power-pop "She's Happy." The latter neatly ties together the band's country and rock sides. Barr's lyrics are often poetically opaque, with his mood showing more through melody and timbre. "Come to Bed" suggests that the past can be remembered but not resurrected and seems to be an elegy to nostalgia. "The Burden" celebrates one more night of revelry before tomorrow's unconvincingly promised reform. Fans of the Wilco and Brian Wilson will each find something to like here. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com]
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