Rose Windows - Rose Windows
by Paul Waller
published: 4 / 5 / 2015
Label:
Sub Pop
Format: CD
intro
Posthumous second album from just disbanded Seattle-based sextet Rose Windows, which finds them shifting from their early psychedelic influences towards a melodic pop/folk sound
This morning I was listening to the new Rose Windows album, I should have been taking notes for this review but was instead procrastinating on the internet when during the song ‘A Pleasure to Burn’ the band themselves posted a message onto Facebook announcing that they had split up. It was not a coy pre-emptive possibility; it came across as a full on and very final statement of fact. “Rose Windows will no longer be moving forward. For the health of the band and the health of each individual member we have to let go. Although this might seem abrupt know that this does not come easy for any of us. We are all heart broken; we are all grieving. So all I can say is what the fuck! This self-titled sophomore effort is far superior to 'The Sun Dog', their already outstanding debut, maybe diehard fans of the band’s early psyche sound may weep a little because they have shed the majority of their reverb pedals and ushered in a shiny palate of pop and folk hooks. Getting hold of this record though, you won’t have to dig too deep to be stunned by their progression. It’s glaringly obvious. The key track here is ‘Glory, Glory’. It screams of a musical rebirth, classic rock blended with a pop swing and, dare I say it, a delicate splash of late 80’s college rock. To be honest this really isn’t too far removed from what a young Juliana Hatfield was cranking out on her ’95 opus ‘Only Everything’. Elsewhere when the band take their feet off the gas, gentle harmonies and intricate guitar fiddling like that on opener ‘Bodhi Song’ remind you of the band’s debut but the melodies are tighter and more thought out. Maybe this contributed to the break up, where could the band go from here without alienating their core fan base. For now it’s just conjecture. I for one will miss them dearly.
Track Listing:-
1 Bodhi Song2 Glory, Glory
3 Blind
4 Strip Mall Babylon
5 Come Get Us Again
6 The Old Crow
7 Aurora Avenue
8 A Pleasure To Burn
9 Harami
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/rosewindowshttps://twitter.com/rosewindowsband
https://soundcloud.com/rose-windows
Label Links:-
https://www.subpop.com/https://www.facebook.com/subpoprecords
https://plus.google.com/+subpop
https://twitter.com/subpop
http://subpop.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/subpoprecords
soundcloud
reviews |
The Sun Dog (2013) |
Inventive debut album from Seattle-based psychedelic folk pop outfit, Rose Windows |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesPhilip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Deep Purple - =1
Popstar - Obscene
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart