Album of the Week: Crows and Jays - Indian Falls


There is a cyclical way we recall memories, sometimes pulling from the end, or dreaming up the middle, trying to find narrative thread that rings true. The story can weaken, or intensify, depending the details added or taken away. Reflection holds an emotional, resonant space. With Crows & Jay's release of Indian Falls this February, they state that this album "...Accesses much more personal experiences of the band. It's about coming and going, and recognizing all the various forms both addiction and relationships have." The many stories told in this work capture, with a twang, how we recast old partnerships. Crows & Jays translate their histories in major harmonies, strong ballads, and a punchy side of rock n' roll.

"Indian Falls" opens the album with cascading, crisp piano solos. The content is idyllic, roomy, and places us in a tangible setting, as main vocalist Justin Bachulak sings, "Indian Falls is callin'/ bathe in the water that's fallin'/ we'll live off the land/ once again I'll be your man." "Fall Behind Us" contrasts with a more minor, pensive, adagio piano, that follows the vocal phrasing in sync. Much of the music harnesses a southern rock and folk sensation, bringing up, for this listener, the fluid guitar solos of The Allman Brothers and the introspective strums of Neil Young. "Only One Survives" follows this path. Extended riffs play between the lyrical phrases, then pause to emphasize what's being sung. A solid line: "Two hearts can beat but only one survives."

Completing the back end of the album are more anthemic, stripped down tunes. "Deirdre" retells the story of a "beauty queen", perhaps a eulogy, or song of mourning. The harmony on the word "Deirdre" catapults the sound to an ethereal level, raising the complexity. "Skipping Stones" feels like it's drawing from a more puerile time, wandering through childhood memories while sitting in the midst of a forest. Around two minutes in, the guitar trills, leaving a gap between the past and present. The last line of the song is an appropriate placement for the close, "put out the fire, we've got some sleeping to do." From start to finish, Crows & Jays deliver a sound musical journey. For a reasonable dime to have it for your own, head here.





0 comments

Post a Comment