|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
 |
So sue me! I like the album! That shouldn't be a crime. -
Steve Stringer - (6)
From the musical minds of Kyle Kersten and Brian Kraft comes a wonderfully done debut album. All that is held dear in the world of folk/americana....mixed with the ethereal sounds of a modern soundscape. The combination of these two elements never clashes...always fusing together in a beautiful display. These songs are memorable...but not in an outright or obvious way. They stick in your mind like a sweet memory. Great work from an up-and-coming band. - Jesse Aaron - (2) Watching Kyle Kersten's development as an artist with collaborater Brian Kraft has been one of the past years true pleasures. A stunning debut from a band that promises to get even better. One to watch. - Nortwoods - (2) |
||||||||||
| To go on a journey is to make an effort, to arrive at a destination is to Travel By Sea. There were no high winds and frequent gales encountered in the making of Shadows Rise, the debut album of Kyle Kersten (Tustin, California) and Brian Kraft (Denver, Colorado). All songs were created and recorded without these two musicians ever having met. The album could have well been a side project similar to Will Johnson’s Centro-Matic “Navigational” since more than 800 miles separate these two musicians. Songs like “Complete Shakeup” and “Can’t Be Wrong” are like waves that build and build until they reach almost unimaginable heights. The melancholic journey of these songs ends with the beautiful acoustic instrumental “Eastern Angel”, disappearing like the sun, too quickly below the horizon in the West. Travel By Sea's Shadows Rise is an impressive debut. Hopefully these two great musicians will continue to collaborate to bring us more of the same great music down the road. - Gas OJ - (1) | |||||||||||
| Raving Lunatic (5), Chogdog (3), Jeebs (1) | |||||||||||
| . | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
 |
I was a little nervous after I first heard “How We Operate.” Only one song had really grabbed me—the album closer, “Don’t Make Me Laugh”—I wasn’t loving the rest of the album. But I left it in the stereo for a couple of weeks, and then I had That Moment, where an just all of a sudden clicks, and you really get it and you don’t want to stop listening to it over and over and over again. I think it was in the middle of “Chasing Ghosts With Alcohol,” where it all comes in and the song explodes (this is one of those songs that gives fantastic build). From That Moment on, I was in love with this album and it’s barely left my stereo…or my car…or my ipod since. It’s a brilliant record, and much like Wilco’s YHF (another album I didn’t get until I had That Moment), more than the sum of its parts. - ShyGirl - (10) One of the best bands out there creating a sometimes heavy-handed album (I blame the producer) but overall strong songs, harmonies and top notch musicianship. A winning effort. - Track 11 - (2) Colorado Sun (7) |
||||||||||
| .a | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
 |
Blah, Blah, Blah, this album is good. - Matt Mett - (4)
Rootsy like its predecessor (Home) but with more edge and Rubin's fine production. Gary Louris' input certainly didn't hurt either. - Toad - (3) Initially the songs won me over, but some of the production was far removed (despite Rick Rubin doing the honours) from their earlier more rootsy sound and feel. Another political record in taking on modern days themes and concerns.For the first time they had a hand in writing all the songs with co-writing credits to the likes of Mike Campbell, Gary Louris, Pete Yorn, Sheryl Crow, Keb Mo, Neil Finn and Dan Wilson. With Natalie Maines voice out front it's impossible not to take notice and this turned into my late year winner as it moved into my top 10. - G-Man - (2) Good album... - My Life Is Sought - (2) |
||||||||||
| Howard (8) | |||||||||||
| .a | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
 |
Raving
Lunatic (10), Long Dark Blues (8)
|
||||||||||
| .a | |||||||||||