Shadows of the Waxwings

Waxwings

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 16, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bobsled Records
• ASIN: B000069DQ4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,289 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The Waxwings debut, Low to the Ground, was a glorious power-pop set that paid homage to the sunny, tightly crafted melodies of '60s icons like the Byrds and the Beach Boys. On its follow-up, the Detroit quartet stops gazing west and tunes into the garage sounds of its own hometown. Cranking up the distortion and digging into fuzzy retro grooves on tracks like "Wired That Way" and "Rifle Through," the Waxwings here sound more like the White Stripes than the Wondermints. But the group's unflappable sense of melody remains, particularly on the hushed "Look Down Darkly" and the shimmying "Fractured," while the score of baroque instruments and string arrangements falling into the mix further sets them apart from traditionalists like the Posies and Teenage Fanclub. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Out Of The Light...Into The Shadows?, July 16, 2002

By	Brian K. Bunn (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I suppose the question that most would have is "Have The Waxwings duplicated the magic of their first album "Low To The Ground" with their second release?" Well, I'll answer that question right away. No. "Shadow Of" falls short of the pop/rock masterpiece that is "Low To The Ground". OK? So there. Let's get that out of the way. Upon first listen I would have stated emphatically that they have not by any means. That they haven't really even come close. But could we really expect that they would? Is it even fair to expect they would? The good news is that after 8-10 times listening to the album it closes the gap and gains on LTTG. It still falls short, but it is definitely a grower. With each listen it gets better. And it is still early. It is entirely possible that I will be ready to proclaim "Shadow Of" one of the best albums of the year come December. That is just the kind of album it is. Which is probably the best way to describe it in a nutshell. The 3 stars I am giving it is a bit low. 3 1/2 stars would be just about right...at this point...with room to move up the astrological scale with repeated listens. So don't give up on it if you were unrealistically expecting the same musical magic that is heard on LTTG. Hey, I was looking forward to this album as much as anyone and was guilty of the same unrealistic expectations going in. But hang in there. It is still a good album with a couple of tunes that DO come very close to LTTG territory.

With the first distorted stroke of the guitar on the first track "Wired That Way" the listener is perhaps served notice that this is a different sort of album than LTTG. It has a much more raw sound and often the vocals are a bit distorted and put low in the mix. It even sounds as if the recording is not quite up to snuff on occasion. Which may just be intentional, fitting in with the overall raw feel of the album. They rock out more on this one. Which isn't a bad thing. This band can rock! But it is on one of the quieter tunes that The Waxwings push up to the level of their debut. Track 3 "Look Down Darkly" is as good as anything on LTTG. It is one fantastic tune and just may make the entire album worth the purchase for those that could not get enough of LTTG. But hang in there. There is more worthwhile stuff here. "Look Down Darkly" drifts right into track 4 "Rifle Through", a rocking little tune with good harmonies with some "bop bop baaa's" and "ooooh aaaahs" thrown in quite effectivley. Good stuff. Track 6 "Almost All Day" trespasses on LTTG territory as well. A good mid tempo tune with a nice vocal and a good drum riff throughout. Track 7 "Fractured" is another rocker, in the style of early 70's Rolling Stones, with Keith Richard's like guitar licks and good harmonies. This one really grows on you. Track 8 "Brilliant Grey" wears its influences up front...very "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" era Byrds-like with a country sort of feel to it. I can just hear Gram Parsons singing this one...God rest his soul. Track 10 "Into Tomorrow" is another peaceful easy feeling tune with a nice Supertramp-like piano line meandering through it and some nice harmonica work. I'll take that. I have to say that the final track "What's Needed Now" is a bit of a disappointment. Especially after the downright perfect tune that ends The Waxwings debut, "It Comes In Waves". This is perhaps the biggest disappointment with "Shadow Of"...I was really looking forward to another fantastic closing tune on this album. And it just isn't there.

"Shadow Of The Waxwings" is an interesting album indeed. Upon first listen it disappoints as compared to The Waxwings phenomenal debut. But with the bar being set so high the first time out the pressure was perhaps unfairly on to try and match it. But it will grow on all that really enjoyed LTTG. Give it a chance to do so and you will be OK with it, and maybe even grow to love it. Probably never as much as LTTG. Which is OK. I still say that The Waxwings are a special band and as long as they remain together we are in for some great stuff from them in the future. Heck, this is only their second album. And after having created a pop/rock masterpiece their first time out...well...one has to believe that greater things are on the horizon for The Waxwings. They may have stepped back into the shadows a bit on this one but I for one have little doubt that The Waxwings will step back into the light...and will shine bright for some time to come.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Who recorded this?, July 18, 2002

By	J. Michael Abernathy (mobile, al. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Let me start off by saying that I think their first release is simply a masterpiece. It had great songs, great melodiies and perhaps as important was crystal clear. The vocals were distinct the backround vocals were an intergal part of the music and the guitars which are their calling card were clearly distinctive.
Now we come to this new release which I had been waiting on and anticipating for some time. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. What happened to all those elements that were so special on their first release? There seems to be a lot of good music here but it is so cluttered.I have a friend who tells me to give it more time( after 10 listens or so) you begin to warm up to it. I certainly hope this is true because when the Waxwings do it right they are hard to beat.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious Shadows, August 29, 2002

By	Michael Hayes (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

The sophomore Waxwings release "Shadows of the Waxwings" is a stroke of genius that calls attention to the good old days of rock n' roll, when music was made for the sake of music, and artists were actually artists. This album rivals any and all of today's indie-rock releases with glorious sounds that feature sixties-style retro guitars, brilliant base lines and impeccable drumming. "Shadows" defies MP3 culture and requires heavy listening. It is not meant for the lightweight or lighthearted rock enthusiast (ala your typical Dave Matthews/John Mayer fans) rather, a breed of lost survivors who revel in the search for something pure. You'll understand this splendid rock quartet's new release "Shadows" a whole lot better after a live show. The stoned, wounded stage presence, the beat-up vintage gear, the Byrds-soaked harmonies - it's all a part of something that has been lost and recovered, tattered and torn but not broken. Dean Fertita and Dominic Romano succeed in playing off one another much the way Stephen Stills and Neil Young did in a band called Buffalo Springfield. Both are brilliant songwriters who complement one another with stellar melodies, and stunning falsetto Beach Boy harmonies. This band rocks hard and loud, but also brings out gorgeous ballads that shine. This is not just another quartet looking for a record deal, wanting to show up on the cover of Rolling Stone. I doubt the Waxwings, who are rumored to share an A-frame house outside of Detroit, own cell phones or computers. What makes this band and its albums ("Low to the Ground" is another essential must-have) better than anything you'll hear on the radio or find in the "must buy" bins is that they are unaffected by our society's media-driven penny-ante prerequisites. From their cowboy boots to their jean-jackets, we can only hope that the Waxwings remain together longer than their idols did some thirty years ago. The Waxwings are the real thing for sure.