Since I threw that album by A Perfect Circle out the window, the idea of a supergroup formed out of intriguing artists worries me. For every good project (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young or something by Cream) there have been inoperable blights on the musical landscape (the Travelling Willburys or Emerson, Lake and Palmer). As a precaution, I asked for the Monsters of Folk album from Santa. That way, I wouldn’t waste my own money. And, also, feel less concerned as I made the CD into another coaster.
With a few exceptions, the result is actually a fairly safe album, and allthe better for it. Indeed, there are songs clearly belonging to a Bright Eyes record (the mid-paced sprawl of Ahead of the Curve and, earlier on, Temazcal) an M Ward record (the low-key, hushed torchlight folk of Slow Down Jo, and the wistful Magic Marker) and a slightly out-there My Morning Jacket effort (Losing Yo’ Head, which also sounds a bit like a Tom Petty track).
The exceptions are a little odd. In true maverick style, the opener, Dear God, throws a curve ball; it’s an Al Green-esque slice of funky soul. Elsewhere, Map of the World begins like a Bright Eyes song but turns into an escalating melodrama a la Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac.
Less surprisingly, the album is glued together with a considerable amount of slow country-tinged folk, especially in its first half. It’s clearly something the four guys share as common ground, as these tracks are distinctly more genre-oriented than any of their own material. It’s still engaging work, however.
It’s a solid album, and whilst there are far fewer fireworks than there might have been, there are both highlights and surprises. And, at fifteen tracks lasting fifty-five minutes, it does not outstay its welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment