Beachwood Sparks – Make The Cowboy Robots Cry
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Posted On July 1, 2002
From the country-rock moves of last year’s glittering Once We Were Trees to the retro-rodeo wear the group sports in its photo shoots, Beachwood Sparks have sought to summon the psychedelic ghosts of the late-’60s L.A. country-rock scene. On this six-song EP, however, they appear to be heading into their own uncharted domain.
They stir some of the Dead’s American Beauty-era spice into their songwriting on the frail, imperfect harmonies of “Ponce De Leon Blues”, which features a contribution from Angeleno alt-folkie Mia Doi Todd). A straightforward instrumental approach is supplemented with occasional keyboard spaciness on “Galapagos”, perhaps the only example of a banjo-driven mellotron duet extant. A Yes-style guitar stamp marks “Drinkswater”, which could easily pass for a Steve Howe solo track. And judging from “Ghost Dance 1492”, even the Lovin’ Spoonful appear to have played a role in the new direction.
Cliches no more, Beachwood Sparks are well down the path of creating their own fractured fairy tale.
