Rating: NNNN
Hard to believe it’s been 10 years since California’s Beachwood Sparks released Make The Cowboy Robots Cry, an EP of sprawling cosmic country music that seemed to be their swan song.
But following a live reunion at Sub Pop’s 20th anniversary party a couple of years back, the classic quartet of Chris Gunst, Brent Rademaker, Farmer Dave Scher and Aaron Sperske got together to record an album that fits neatly into their summery Laurel Canyon canon.
Much like on their second album, the theme of preferring the natural world to gold is expressed in songs like No Queremos Oro and Tarnished Gold. The gentle lyrics, perfect harmonies and ethereal slide guitar suggest happy days and renewed hope. While all the West Coast blue-skying might seem naive, the laid-back vibe makes you want to focus on the positive, at least for the album’s duration.
Top track: Forget The Song
