Dream River

The baritone folk-Americana-alt-country you'd expect from the man formerly known as Smog; similar to recent BC albums with some new touches: a jazzy backing band, lots of flute and Latin percussion. Really great to hear a guy keep progressing his sound like this. Might be remembered as one of his best when all's said and done. All tracks good.

RIYL: Lambchop, Leonard Cohen, Songs: Ohia, Fairport Convention, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Silver Jews

**1 (4:32) Folky, chilled out to begin w/ slow western fiddle, about drinking in a hotel bar; picks up electrically here and there. "The only words I've said today are beer and thank you. Beer. Thank you. Beer. Thank you."
*2 (3:48) Hypnotic. Hazy, strummed guitar to start, electric guit, flute and more join. Upbeat but not rocking, gives the feeling of being in a strange place
***3 (3:57) Smoggier in its calm slowness. Full sound; voice and lyrics really fill this one up with perfectly subtle band complements
4 (5:10) Stony slow 70s deserty guitar licks over clopping beat, flute, I think this is what they mean when they call things make out music
5 (5:03) Darker, nervous guitars float around a real smooth beat from the rhythm section
**6 (6:30) Ominous; autumnal feel including lyrics, which concern dealing with the frustration of working as a pawn by becoming an artist. Loud, intense middle and end sections
7 (5:39) Plucky, hypnotic, "bar room, bar room... baroom baroom." Bouncing 70s organesque keys, guitar licks add flavor to laid back sound
*8 (5:30) Slow; night falls. Bluesy, folky, meandering, lonesome fiddle; great way to close your show.