Customer Reviews

Make the Cowboy Robots Cry [Vinyl]

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

 

 

I am going to attempt to do one better than the music press by reviewing this album without mentioning 'Strictly Ballroom', 'DNTEL', or making a Sade joke. The new Beechwood Sparks EP has a similar sound to their most recent full length "Once we were Trees"--plenty of steel guitar, harmonica, country flourishes and falsetto vocal melodies, of course--but has new added elements. The sound is hazy and echo laden, creating a smooth, familar vibe, but subtle electronic elements, mellotron and female backing vocals and keyboard percussion on "Ponce de Leon Blues" give "Make the Cowboy Robots Cry" its own distinctive sound. New drummer Jimi Hey sounds great, and DNTEL's (damn, I lost...) Jimmy Tamborello squeaks and blips out "additional sounds". The album generally flows along glacially, much like the more song-oriented post rock outfits, like the Sea and Cake. Most of the tempos are slow and the melodies are majestic, with the exception of the closer "Ghost Dance 1492", which adds a rollicking beat, fuzz guitar, synth noise and vocoder to the mix. "Galapagos" begins as a banjo, guitar and vocal porch jam and evolves slowly with synth and keyboard noises signaling some sort of quiet, rural apocalypse. All six tracks are artfully played and produced, and give generous nods to The Buffalo Springfield, Love, The Byrds, and just about every other 60's LA band, except the Doors. In short, this EP is brilliant.

It's a good album as long as you're in the mind set to appreciate something different. It's an album of alternative country if there is such a thing. The singer's whiney but the band and lyrics make the cd interesting. Galapagos is a sweet tune.

This is definatly my favorite release by the Sparks. Although it's not a proper LP it is equally as satisfying. Blending enchanting textures of California sunset Noise and "old timey" harmonies. These six songs tread the middle ground between "Loveless" and "Sweetheart of the Rodeo." "Ponce de Leon blues" is an amazing track, although it is a bit long, its the type of song that you don't want to end because of it's heartaching melodies, imagine if Robert Smith was born in Memphis. "Ghost Dance 1492" caps of the disc, bringing it back from meloncholy, synth gospel to the light hearted, beatlesque fuzz pop and country twang that Beachwood Sparks is known for. Great ep and well worth the nine bucks.

Sounds like the Flaming Lips if they had played at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in 1967, opening for Buffalo Springfield. Or like a less poppy, more meandering version of Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." Very rewarding if you're in the right mood.

This sadly was the worst album yet. The bass guitar ruins the album. Do not buy. I suspect the members were the only people reviewing it.