Squirrel Bait Family Tree ~ Reviewed

Engine · 08-08-2010, 11:39 AM

Tracks:
1. To Hold Down a Shadow
2. Barefott
3. In a Box, Under the Bed
4. Sagamore Bridge
5. Gravenhurst
6. Lyasnya
7. Two Parts Water
8. Beacon & Kent
9. Deer Hill
10. So Breaks Yesterday
11. Fullerton
12. Sunday Morning Traffic
13. Tall Grass
14. With Hands

Band:
Chris Brokaw
Bundy K. Brown
Curtis Harvey
Doug McCombs
*David Pajo

This kind of album doesn't get made today. Not by a band of hipsters anyway. This is acoustic post rock and while it's not totally original it's more of an invention than the standard throwback. Instead of many bands from back then and today who won't stop ripping off golden classics like Rolling Stones, The Byrds, Joy Division, U2, etc, etc, these guys were into John Fahey and Leo Kottke.

The entire album was recorded live and intimately and the only sounds come from acoustic stringed instruments. No vocals or other silly things that tend to ruin albums that conjure up 'old times' - this is just beautifully intricate strumming and picking. Lots of different instruments played by musicians from many of the contemporary top notch Chicago indie bands.

Oddly I'm at a loss of things to say about this album even though it is one that I have loved for many years and listened to extensively. Like the album, I'll just let the music speak for itself:

To Hold Down a Shadow

Lyasnya

08-08-2010, 11:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
Engine air quote Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pollen & mold Posts: 3,108	Pullman - Turnstyles & Junkpiles Tracks: 1. To Hold Down a Shadow 2. Barefott 3. In a Box, Under the Bed 4. Sagamore Bridge 5. Gravenhurst 6. Lyasnya 7. Two Parts Water 8. Beacon & Kent 9. Deer Hill 10. So Breaks Yesterday 11. Fullerton 12. Sunday Morning Traffic 13. Tall Grass 14. With Hands Band: Chris Brokaw Bundy K. Brown Curtis Harvey Doug McCombs David Pajo This kind of album doesn't get made today. Not by a band of hipsters anyway. This is acoustic post rock and while it's not totally original it's more of an invention than the standard throwback. Instead of many bands from back then and today who won't stop ripping off golden classics like Rolling Stones, The Byrds, Joy Division, U2, etc, etc, these guys were into John Fahey and Leo Kottke. The entire album was recorded live and intimately and the only sounds come from acoustic stringed instruments. No vocals or other silly things that tend to ruin albums that conjure up 'old times' - this is just beautifully intricate strumming and picking. Lots of different instruments played by musicians from many of the contemporary top notch Chicago indie bands. Oddly I'm at a loss of things to say about this album even though it is one that I have loved for many years and listened to extensively. Like the album, I'll just let the music speak for itself: To Hold Down a Shadow* *Lyasnya* __________________ Like an arrow, I was only passing through.