Bummed that I didn't get to see them at Bonnaroo, and now even more so because this is a truly outstanding piece of work. Thankfully, they are coming to the Social in October and I will not miss it! Found them in 2008 with the "Furr" record and had no idea they'd been around all decade. Probably relegated to their home Northwestern region for the first few years, more than likely helping to initiate the "beard rock" movement. This is more than folk/Americana, this is a palate of aural history from the 60's through the 80's. These are stories set to song, much like Mike Scott and the Waterboys used to do. Great production with multi-tracked harmonies more in the foreground than back. OK, I'll just throw out the influences I hear as a 50+ year-old with a deeper background than most of the reviewers I've read so far: latter-day Beatles (with Billy Preston); Supertramp; Klaatu (is that redundant w/the Beatles?); ELO; Guess Who; City Boy (that prog-rock "Mutt" Lange production); Elton John "Tumbleweed Connection" era); and Wilco for something a little more current. Now if that list doesn't intrigue your ears, then what the hell are you doing reading my blog?!
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