Customer Reviews

I Can't Go on I'll Go on

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

 

 

If you read any of the music blogs out there, you'll know that I'm not the first to say the following: This is a record that will likely stand as one of the great musical statements of its generation.

Not since the Strokes' debut has a band appeared with so cohesive and persuasive a document of the feelings of people their age. Superficially, there is very little to recommend a comparison to the Strokes. The Broken West feature harmonies, handclaps, keyboards and an expansive production palette. Yet, both are the standout bands of their relative cities and scenes (in case of the Broken West, the Silver Lake/Echo Park power pop scene), elevated above the rest of the pack due to the excellence of songs, production, lyrics, musicianship and no small amount of charisma.

Just as the Strokes have their own clear influences, it is not difficult to tell that the Broken West adore their Brian Wilson, ELO, George Harrison and Alex Chilton LPs. "I Can't Go On, I'll Go On" isn't an exercise in replication, however. Instead, the band reforms these sounds of innocence and lost love. It weaves them into a blanket that it drapes over a dystopic vision of youth and young manhood in which we are guilty by association with the world into which we are born and we question if we'll ever find love enough to lose. For all its sunshine and "ooh-ooh-ooh"s, there's a tension to this music, a feeling that at any moment the curtain might be pulled back and we'll be forced to reckon with the fears we keep hidden from others and, mostly, ourselves.

The Broken West embrace and repurpose decades of power pop music, mix in their own ideas and outlook and emerge with a stunning and coruscating record of a life that is helpless but not without hope. I've been listening to this record in pieces since various songs began leaking onto the internet months ago. Today I was finally able to hear the album several times and, as catchy as the individual songs are, it really should be listened to as a complete thought.

This is a truly special album.

After 3 listens to these largely undifferentiated tracks, I became resigned to the conclusion that my enjoyment had quickly plateaued. The musicianship is adequate at best, the rhythmic elements are not particularly inspiring and the vocals are submerged in the mix. There is simply not enough "there" there and it feels repetitive in spots. For the limited range that this music trades in, it seemed passable, but it would be far down my list of go-to stuff on the I-Pod. I could go on, but I won't.

The Broken West is the first band in some time that provided a double-take moment when "panning for gold" on XMU. You have to sift through a lot of junk, but once in a while, you come across a real nugget like The Broken West's Brass Ring. Keep up the good work.

I saw the Broken West open up for The National, summer 2007... what a show. One of the few opening acts that could've headlined. I'm sure they will be shortly, based on this album. They have some upbeat pop elements but stay true to the 'indie' title... are we all getting sick of calling REAL GOOD MUSIC indie, or is it just me? Anyway, on with the review...

The album starts with what most say is a great song, although I don't like it. Nothing too catchy. Track 2, "So It Goes", starts with pounding drums, and I think this was how they opened the concert. Instantly drew me in. Kind of like Brian Wilson crooning over one of Spoon's happier songs. "Down in the Valley" starts with some grungy (another one of those terms that needs replacing) guitars, then brings in some semi-effected/filtered vocals, ala The Bigger Lovers/Electric Soft Parade, but finds more of a melody than most of eithers' catalogues. "Shiftee" is downbeat and forgettable. "Brass Ring" picks things up again, in the same vein as "So It Goes". Hopefully this will be Broken West's bread and butter. What a song. "Big City" contains some synths and funky piano riffs, reminding me again of Spoon, but also a bit of Beatles in there, and some other influences I can't pin down yet. "You Can Build an Island" has simplistic melody, soothing vocals, solid guitars, and is a true gem. Brings to mind Julian Lennon's song "I Don't Wanna Know".

This leads into the album's standout, in my opinion. "Hale Sunrise" has it all. Great vocal arrangements, pounding beats, grooving piano. This one will be in heavy rotation for me for quite some time. Really digging this track. Very uplifting. "Abigail" follows and is a nice addition to the ever growing list of songs with first names of women. Nice backing vocals, Beatle/Beach Boy-esque, with some spacially separated drums plodding nicely in the background, until an electric piano solo leads into the 3rd verse. Great 1-2 punch here.

"Slow" is definitely fast, but drags. Nothing exceptional, actually the only song that I consider filler. Next up is the haunting "Baby on My Arm", with vocals swirling and blending into a nice sweeping pad. Good guitar strumming on this one. Check out the version of this song on the Woxy.com lounge act. Truly amazing. "Like a Light" closes off the album, and has a real 'bookend' feel. Slow build up to a nice end to a great album.

All in all, I regret selling this disc back to the record shop after I ripped it. I have a feeling I'll be wanting more than the mp3's on my PC in the years to come. Oh yeah, just a note... if you can find their cover of Tegan and Sara's "Back in Your Head" online, don't miss it. They take the annoying out of it and turn it into a beautiful song. They Can Go On, They Will Go On.

Upon hearing the first 3 songs I was ready to rate this recording as one of my top 10's for 07. However, there is a subtle shift from free-wheeling melodic rock to more subdued somber sounds on the second half of the cd. It's not bad but nearly as captivating as the sing-along stuff. I wish they could have kept with the vibe on the early songs; still very promising.

Let me state upfront that I had never heard of these guys until I heard them on WOXY, the internet-only indie-rock station (BAM!! The Future of Rock and Roll!) that plays the best music in the country, bar none. The Broken West have been around since 2004, releasing an EP along the way (under the "Brokedown" nomiker) and finally released this in early 2007.

"I Can't Go On, I'll Go On" (12 tracks, 44 min.) is the band's debut album, and brings an eclectic mix of pop-smart tunes with a great indie undertone. The opener "On the Bubble" sets the table beautifully, a short, hard-driven track with great harmonizing vocals and the band on all cylinders. "Shiftee" is one of the few pensive tunes, but it works great. My favorite tune on the album is "You Can Build an Island", which gives us the Byrds-sound updated for the 21st century, just beautiful. There really is no weak moment on this set, just check out "Slow" towards the end, with an urgency that just grabs you. The closer "Like a Light" summarizes the album just perfectly.

I happen to catch the Broken West in concert at the Monolith Festival (at the Red Rocks near Denver) last September, and they put on a great set. These guys are on to something. Meanwhile "I Can't Go on, I'll Go On" is a great album. Highly recommended!

A great debut LP from a great new indie band...this LP is definitely steeped in influence from the classics: Big Star, Kinks, etc. In addition, the production and overall sounds recalls recent bands like Wilco (like the song "Kamera" off Yankee Hotel Foxtrot).

Hopefully these guys can get one of these songs ("Down in the Valley" is a great candidate) on a movie soundtrack and get rediculously popular. Anyone who appreciates classic power pop and the cream of the current indie rock crop (read Shins, Death Cab NOT Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand - no disco beats here) will enjoy this thoroughly! Good luck to these guys, I hope to see them live soon.

Wow! this album blew me away on the first listen and just keeps getting better on eaxh subsequent listen. They took the best aspects of Teenage Fanclub, Wilco, and Big Star etc. and incorporated them into their song writing. This will most likely be on everyone's best of list when December rolls around.

I absolutely love this cd! Everyone has got to try it. Wasn't a big fan at first, but to truly love it, you have to listen through the whole thing!

I don't think fans of song-oriented indie-type rock will be disappointed in The Broken West, whose album features a suite of tunes pleasant enough for ears who've heard too much of the Shins lately (played that one out in about a week), but come on, Guy "Rock Fan" - can you really mean everything you say? You're clearly a member of the band. Either that, or you're the lead singer's dad. I can't decide.