Califone - Roots and Crowns
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 11 / 11 / 2006
Label:
Thrill Jockey
Format: CD
intro
Fresh-sounding country folk and roots rock from durable Chicago based rockers, Califone
Presumably part of the 'post' style generation of musicians, Califone combine the traditional epic style found in country music with arrangements as you'd expect them from a contemporary urban combo. Risen from the ashes of the sometimes rampant Red Red Meat, Califone's sonic country folk music is firmly rooted in the Chicago independent music scene. Though for over a decade now, none of the major record labels ever drew the chequebook! How artist and repertoire managers with big time companies tend to spend is beyond me. Califone were, however, never able to do a Fleetwood Mac, but,given their lengthy history, still sound like an entirely fresh new bunch to me. Not shy either of incorporating grooves of a loose approach that is most famous in their hometown Chicago's jazz, Califone's 'Roots and Crowns', thanks to its great sense of longing which makes you shut up and listen, also made me ponder as to how minimalism, sonic rock beats and rootsy music rendered in one song can prove not to have conflicting styles. The song, 'A Chinese Actor', is a magnificent example of such a combination. 'Black Metal Valentine' brings another fine meltdown of styles; The Replacements could only wish they'd ever done a track or trick like this; using aspects of electronica and folk. These well-dosed inclusions of glitches and other digital noise make this album like the echoes from a contemporary marsh with the hauntingly beautiful aesthetics of 'americana'.
Track Listing:-
1 Pink & Sour2 Spiders House
3 Sunday Noises
4 The Eye You Lost in the Crusades
5 A Chinese Actor
6 Our Kitten Sees Ghosts
7 Alica Crawley
8 The Orchids
9 Burned By Christians
10 Black Metal Valentine
11 Rose Petal Eat
12 3Leged Animal
13 If You Would
Label Links:-
http://www.thrilljockey.com/https://www.facebook.com/ThrillJockey
https://twitter.com/thrilljockey
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
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesBill Wyman - Drive My Car
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Deep Purple - =1
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Popstar - Obscene
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
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