BEACHWOOD SPARKS Once We Were Trees (Sub Pop/Warner) Rating: NNN
West Coast psych-rock wreckers masquerading as country-come-latelies, the Beachwood Sparks have never allowed their studio recordings to tip their hand as to the mind-warping damage their fabulously chaotic performances have in store. Once We Were Trees is no different, again conservatively playing up the winsome jangle gleaned from Gram Parsons-era Byrds and Gene Clark recordings while saving up the excitement of their chaotic discourses for the next tour.