Customer Reviews

Snow Tires

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

 

 

"I've been known to walk at night where street lights end and dark begins/And lately I've been occupied with things I should have left behind/All my shortfalls notwithstanding I could give a lot to you/Press this dream up muddy river underneath the drowsy moon"''

New album - the fifth - from Jarid del Deo (Unbunny/Nervous Plants) with help from old friends Steve Haruch, Gregg Porter (The Hotel Alexis/Milkweed), Julie Law-Linck, and Two Ton Santa Records' Guy Capecelatro III and new friends Paul Chastain (The Velvet Crush/The New Ruins/Matthew Sweet/Menck & Chastain/Choo Choo Train/The Nines/The Stupid Cupids/The Big Maybe/Bag o' Shells) and Roy Ewing (The New Ruins/Braid/Very Secretary/Days In December/Mary Me/lowercase n/ Grand Theft Autumn Records co-owner). Recorded with Sidney Alexis (The Hotel Alexis), Paul Chastain, and The Rights (Rogue Wave).

''After releasing 4 albums in the US and appearing on a variety of compilations in Japan, New Hampshirite Jarid found himself moving from Portsmouth to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois for a year-and-a-half. Hidden Agenda Records found him working at Fannie May Candies and couldn't be happier to have made his aquaintance. As if sneaking Pixies and Mint Meltaways from the back room wasn't enough to satisfy him, Jarid began recording bittersweet song after song at his home. His chance meeting of Roy and then, Paul, gave him an opportunity to realize these songs more fully at his home away from home. He recorded "Snow Tires" in C-U with Paul, Adam Schmitt, and by himself, in Portsmouth with longtime friends, and in San Francisco with The Rights (who have been tracking songs for Rogue Wave).

''With a wealth of highway miles in the rearview mirror, a tragic break-up heavy on his soul, and a final return to his Northeastern home, Jarid pulls away from it all with "Snow Tires"; a masterful new album intimately plumbing life's changes while growing musically and lyrically. This is one of those records we lifelong music fans dream about as it combines the fragility of Elliott Smith, the humanity of Neutral Milk Hotel, the melodic sensibility of Matthew Sweet, and the careworn metaphors of The Mendoza Line. "Snow Tires" is a confessional masterwork that flows like a page from a diary from an engaging artist.

''Jarid del Deo is a musical treasure whose time has come and whose heartrending melodies and homespun tunes will capture the hearts and minds of fans with an affection for the aforementioned bands as well as critical faves Sufjan Stevens and Iron And Wine and anyone who loves pulling for the underdog and then seeing him win by a nose. ''

A displaced musician, a broken heart, and - did I mention the children's choir? - all the ingredients are all here for a stupendous album. "Snow Tires" is a labor of love for both artist and listener, I cannot recommend this album any more highly.''

"Me and James in the backyard/You and Nancy in the kitchen/James says you told Nanc/That you think of me differently now/I was in the garage/Grabbed the last of my boxes/I checked your oil for ya/You could use some good tires before the storm"'

And what it is is beautiful, frail music. There are mellow songs, introspective songs and songs that allow you to feel the rock bottom along with the singer. It is not an album from which you can pluck singles to play over and over - it is best experienced as a whole. Buy this short, simple and lovely album; take a ride that will stay with you long after the ehadphones come off.

Don't listen to the review above.
Don't try to compare and contrast Unbunny to any other group or artist.
Just sit back and allow all of Unbunny's work to become one artist you wouldn't know what to do without.
I did and I'm better off because of it.

P.S. You should check out everything else Unbunny's released. All of it is simply amazing.

On the cover of this cd it says that Unbunny shares similar ground with Elliott Smith, Neutral Milk Hotel and "Harvest era" Neil Young. Okay, lets lay the groundwork for this review. First, this band has very little in common with Neutral Milk Hotel. For fans of that band, check out The Decemberists, Destroyer and many other bands on the label Merge. Just go to their website; there are many amazing bands on that label, and if Unbunny someday signed with them, I wouldn't be surprised. Second, it seems that every band with a singer who tends to hold a not with a whisper is being compared to Elliott Smith these days. It's like Elliott has become a generaliztion; a selling point, and I think that due to his untimely death it is unfair to cash in on his identity. Smith was not the first person to play music in this style folks. Third, yes, this band does sound like Neil Young "Harvest era". But...., well I can't argue this one. I do like this record, and I think that it gets better with every listen. In fact, it may be more of 4 star album later in the day. I just don't really like using the rating system for music. Will I buy another album by these guys? Yes, I think down the road, they will make a great album.
Now, let's talk about the highlights. F.M. is probably the best song on the record. It reaches for the sonic texture of early nineties Flaming Lips, but in a subtle way. The song also features a children's choir; this might frighten you when you read this, but trust me, when you hear it, it won't. In bringing up the Lips, Snow Tires reminds me somewhat of an acoustic version of Clouds Taste Metallic. That doesn't mean that every fan of the Lips should go and buy this record, though. Pink Lemonade carries the greatest heaviest weight, lyrically. And, that brings up another point, most of the lyrics on the album are quite good. Certain lights could be the rehaunting of any of the ghosts from Young's Harvest. It is the reason why the comparison is justified. The song also shares the same rhythmn of California One on the Decemberists' first record.
Should you rush right out and buy this record? Probably not. In fact, I bet you probably couldn't rush right out and buy it because most music stores, more than likely, won't have it. In fact the copy I bought online, is a promotional copy. But, if you are a fan of "alt-country"(whatever that is) or Neil Young, you should look into this. This is a good record and it could get better.

I cannot agree much more with "Hail to the Chimp turning leaf 1"s' review except with his selection of the best song on this record. "Hail" is right on with his review.

Unbunny has great potential. The seeds of an exceptional singer/songwriter band are there. It simply seems they got together in the studio to put out another road album. I do not mean that to be derogatory, but the record is unfinished and rushed.

For example, I Leave Stones Unturned has the potential to be a seminal song. However, they do not finish it; or should I say they do not polish it--and apparently, they have the potential to do so.

After having this CD in heavy rotation in my CD player (home, car and work), I have concluded that I am slightly disappointed. They could have done so much better.

I love Casserole--because I can relate. It is really easy to like. My favorite and the deepest (and this is where I depart from "Hail") is Nothing Comes to Rest. This song is outstanding.

I must say that I am partial to this type of band--I have been chasing Neil Young since I have been 15. I treasure singer/songwriters.

Should you buy this record? Yes. Is it groundbreaking? No. Will Unbunny produce something great? Maybe.