January 22, 2007
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| The Broken West: I Can't Go On, I'll Go On: Review |
 The Broken West
I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
[Merge Records - January 23rd]
*Sixeyes Score: 9.1 out of 10
This is the full length debut for LA's The Broken West, and it's worth every penny you'll be shelling out for it. This record follows their only previous record, the critically acclaimed EP The Dutchman's Gold, and "Down In The Valley", the heart of that EP, is here on the full length (in remastered form). But now it's not the heart itself, it's one of several chambers which constitute this LA band's muscular musical heart. Oh, you wanna know how big that heart is, do you? Okay, then put these together: "So It Goes", "Brass Ring", "Hale Sunrise", "Baby On My Arm", "On The Bubble", "You Can Build An Island". That's over half the record, but what of the rest? Gorgeous harmonies permeate each song to varying degrees, harmony being the metaphorical blood of this album, of the band The Broken West. The band has a solid foundation with several members penning songs, most often in collaboration... and I have to mention the skill exhibited here regarding the production. The songs shimmer and ring, pound and throb, as each one dictates, the album production credit goes to the band and they've fashioned a distinctive tone for themselves and the record.
But you want musical references, right? Alright. If you laid the damp beauty of Scotland's Teenage Fanclub beneath the American desert sun, what would rise like coloured smoke into the night air would be The Broken West. Or... How many bands would give their eye teeth (or Summerteeth) to approximate the golden pop tones essayed by Wilco before Jeff Tweedy moved them into the experimental era of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot? A tone so effortlessly displayed by The Broken West on several songs, most notably "Hale Sunrise".
But all this power pop goodness is usurped by the stunning track, "Baby On My Arm". It's shimmer and glitter showering from the acoustic guitars, including a Byrdsian twelve string, with Flournoy's strong forlorn vocal riding just above the huge acoustic guitar sound. One of the most impressive things about the band is you can't anticipate where they will go with the next record, but you sure as hell look forward to it.
baby on my arm [mp3]
down in the valley [mp3]
Buy I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
Download The Broken West albums, tracks and songs for free with eMusic's trial subscription.
Merge Records
Broken West myspace
TOUR DATES
Jan 22, 07
The Broken West at Spaceland (Los Angeles, California)
Map
Jan 23, 07
The Broken West at Spaceland (Los Angeles, California)
Map
Jan 29, 07
The Broken West at Spaceland (Los Angeles, California)
Map
Feb 5, 07
The Broken West at Cafe Du Nord (San Francisco, California)
Map
Feb 8, 07
The Broken West at Doug Fir (Portland, Oregon)
Map
Feb 9, 07
The Broken West at Sunset Tavern (Seattle, Washington)
Map
Feb 12, 07
The Broken West at Kilby Court (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Map
Feb 13, 07
The Broken West at Hi Dive (Denver, Colorado)
Map
Feb 15, 07
The Broken West at Modified (Phoenix, Arizona)
Map
Feb 24, 07
The Broken West at Plush (Tucson, Arizona)
Map
Feb 27, 07
The Broken West at Emo's (Austin, Texas)
Map
Feb 28, 07
The Broken West at The Cavern (Dallas, Texas)
Map
Mar 2, 07
The Broken West at Mojo's (Columbia, Montana)
Map
Mar 3, 07
The Broken West at The Picador (Iowa City, Iowa)
Map
Mar 5, 07
The Broken West at Grog Shop (Cleveland Heights, Ohio)
Map
Mar 7, 07
The Broken West at TT the Bear's (Cambridge, MA)
Map
Mar 9, 07
The Broken West at Ottobar (Baltimore, Maryland)
Map
Mar 10, 07
The Broken West at Little Brothers (Columbus, Ohio)
Map
Mar 11, 07
The Broken West at Schuba's (Chicago, Illinois)
Map
Mar 12, 07
The Broken West at Southgate House (Newport, Kentucky)
Map
Mar 13, 07
The Broken West at Healiners Music Hall (Louisville, Kentucky)
Map
Mar 18, 07
The Broken West at The Parish House of Blues (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Map
Mar 19, 07
The Broken West at Beta Bar (Tallahassee, Florida)
Map
Mar 21, 07
The Broken West at Grey Eagle (Asheville, North Carolina)
Map
Mar 22, 07
The Broken West at Local 506 (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
Map
Mar 23, 07
The Broken West at Rock and Roll Hotel (Washington, DC)
Map |
posted by alan williamson @ 7:55 AM   |
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| 1 Comments: |
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the fellas are doing an acoustic set on my show wed on little radio. tune in!
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the fellas are doing an acoustic set on my show wed on little radio. tune in!