#8

Califone
Roots & Crowns
(Thrill Jockey)

Califone’s past efforts have walked on my side of the street but always seem to miss, never quite hitting the mark as hard as they could. Por ejemplo: the thoughts on Heron King Blues were great, but carried out much too long. Long songs have their place, but without constant development you’re inevitably going to lose the listener into something else. Thankfully, Roots & Crowns takes that line and stays within the confines that suit their ramshackle folky blues-rock.

Tim Rituli’s outfit still sports the incredible sepia-tinged and naturally crowded mix of Brian Deck, but for once it’s not the kitchen sink approach that defines them. Much like TV on the Radio, the song is key. “Sunday Noises” uses this perfectly – at its core you have a wonderful fingerpicked drawing, but it’s one that gets fleshed out with colors and layers and you find a affecting work of art arise before your eyes.

And, while it’s not theirs, “The Orchids” is one of the most simply beautiful moments put to tape – ever. A fascinating meditation on awakening, it’s a prescient statement for a band that’s finally arrived.