Once We Were Trees

Beachwood Sparks

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• Original Release Date: October 9, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B00005QK45
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #167,087 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
There's something not quite right about Beachwood Sparks' sophomore album. It seems oddly out of focus--like the artwork that accompanies it--and it lacks clarity. That's not to say that these psychedelic country rockers don't create their share of magical moments here, and in the best ones they're able to build on the sounds of their '60 heroes in freshly organic ways. But the beauty of their debut was in their ability to blend irresistible melodies and comforting (if not always on key) vocal harmonies with a milder trippy edge. On Trees that balance is disturbed: the mood is a bit off, slightly ominous and haunting, not reassuring and pretty like on the first album. It's a different kind of trip this time around--not necessarily a bad trip, but it's bumpier than the last one. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description
The Second full-length from Southern California's Beachwood Sparks, Once We Were Trees, finds the band expanding upon the psychedelic country rock of their self-titled 2000 debut. The new record was recorded with Thom Monahan at J. Mascis' studio in Northampton, MA (J. even plays on the record a bit). Plus, the new record features an amazing and sweetly torching version of Sade's "By Your Side." Really.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Stunning!, June 5, 2002

By	Mark Williams (Sierra Madre Canyon, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I played this album through three times the first day I had it, and I was was still hungry for more! It's not about their influences (which they admittedly wear on their sleeves) and it's not about "cutting edge lo-fi indy alt-psych-country-pop", it's about the SONGS folks, the incredible SONGS. These boys can write a damn fine one, and in an album this long and this complex I can only find one song that is somewhat less than excellent (Yer Selfish Ways, which comes off as well-intentioned filler.) That one track not-withstanding, I believe this is an album of timeless classics that will stand as a testament to the life left in the music scene we are all currently let down by. The arrangelemts are wonderful, the sound is intentionally murky and processed by all manner of vintage effects (love the tape echo on the drums), but the overall impression is that this would have stood up against all the classics of the era they are so inspired by. Every time this cd gerts in my player it stays there for days. My hats off to these guys for releasing a captivating, incredible set of songs.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars MY KINDA CAMPFIRE MUSIC, February 18, 2002

By	More M (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a great disc...one to listen to by the fire, or outside camping in a sleeping bag with a loved one. All of the elements are there: lots of reverb, twang, feedback guitars, banjos, harmonica, cymbals, acoustic numbers, waltzes. References? Geez, check out other reviews for that! How about the Byrds, Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Buck Owens? But a little heavier on the reverb and feedback than Gram. Some heartfelt lyrics for lovers included, such as believing in the other, sticking together & working things out thru thick and thin, unconditional love, touching stuff like that. Wow, great words and great music....better than the first disc? Check it out!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Name This Genre, December 12, 2002

By	Larry White (AdultPop.com) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Our favorite exponents of Country and Western music these days are artists who don't even register on the musical Richter Scale that they got over there at The Grand Ol' Opry. Country music is simply the hook that artists such as Jim White, Clem Snide, and this band, Beachwood Sparks hang their Stetsons on before gussying it up with some of those various forms of pop music which have evolved over the years. Beachwood Sparks take country `themes' (as in `melodies'), country `themes' (as in `topics'), and country instruments (as in pedal steel, harmonica, and banjo) and mix them with a healthy dose of psychedelia, amongst other things, and emerge with a hauntingly weird and lovely conglomeration which we will not herein give a name but to which we will certainly give our attention.