Califone - Roots and Crowns

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 11 / 11 / 2006

Label: Thrill Jockey
Format: CD

Fresh-sounding country folk and roots rock from durable Chicago based rockers, Califone

Review

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 & Sour
2 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