Once We Were Trees

CMJ - "...A relaxed, panoramic sound and psychedelic effects gently mutating together..." Alternative Press - 8 out of 10 - "...Avoiding irony and smarm...this gives off good vibrations..." Spin - 8 out of 10 - "...Sincere paeans to growth, self-realization, and tree-hugging transcendence....the best West Coast country-rock band since '80s insurgents the Long Ryders..." Alternative Press - Ranked #23 in AP's "25 Best Albums of 2001". Mojo - "...They take the nascent country rock of The Byrds and extrapolate every last ounce of plangent guitar chime and yearning vocal polyphony until they ring afresh..." Magnet - "Many of the album's tracks began nice and steady with honky-tonk fingerpicking and woozy pedal steel but ended in a miasma of organ drone and haunting harmony vocals." Spin (12/01, pp.154,157) - 8 out of 10 - "...Sincere paeans to growth, self-realization, and tree-hugging transcendence....the best West Coast country-rock band since '80s insurgents the Long Ryders..." Mojo (11/01, p.100) - "...They take the nascent country rock of The Byrds and extrapolate every last ounce of plangent guitar chime and yearning vocal polyphony until they ring afresh..." Alternative Press (2/02, p.65) - Ranked #23 in AP's "25 Best Albums of 2001". Alternative Press (12/01, p.83) - 8 out of 10 - "...Avoiding irony and smarm...this gives off good vibrations..." CMJ (10/8/01, p.5) - "...A relaxed, panoramic sound and psychedelic effects gently mutating together..."

LA psychedelic alt.country outfit follow up 2000's self- titled debut. Produced by Pernice Brother Thom Monahan at the home of ex-Dinosaur Jr frontman J Mascis. With "more edges and texture" than the first record, it incorporates a soulful, gospel influence into their roots-rock sound.|

キラキラと水しぶきを上げる麗しのソフト／フォーク・ロック風情がたまらないビーチウッド・スパークスの2作目。タイトルどおり、彼らの出自は〈森〉なのだからして、豊かな木の香りが高らかなラップ・スティールやバンジョーの音色にかぶさり、森林浴効果ばつぐん。リリーズやファーザーなど、LAきってのギター・バンド出身の彼らだけに、さすがにツボを得たソング・ライティングで、美しいコーラス・ワークも絶品。
bounce (C)福田教雄