Categories
Best Albums Music Music Review

Califone, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

This Gust of Wind goes round and round, painting pictures in the fog. The dead leaves swirl through the night, casting silhouettes above railroads. Inevitably, the street light will flicker in the dead ends of inner-city neighborhoods.

Gust of wind # 10

Califone, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

This Gust of Wind goes round and round, painting pictures in the fog.  The dead leaves swirl through the night, casting silhouettes above railroads. Inevitably, the street light will flicker in the dead ends of inner-city neighborhoods.

My appreciation for Califone runs deep. I think they stay true to their creative intent and never veer off course for the temporary satisfactions of conformity. There music sets its own standard, its own place, in the middle of this packed house of trends. This record continues their profound evolution as a serious band, with serious staying power. All My Friends Are Funeral Singers is a raw look into the deep edges of Califone.

On this latest record, Califone expresses a big sense of grit that surrounds the gorgeous blues of their previous releases. The track “1928” is a great tune to carry you through walks on down the road – your mind watching the leaves swirl, as the passers by chat on their cell phones. It has this mysterious ability to compel reflection; it’s the sliding of the guitar and the rustic vocal tone, mixed with a glitch mash up of real and electronic instrumentation.

Another favorite moment on this record is the song “Ape-like.” From the beginning it comes off as a barn burner, essentially jarring your attention back to the front. The rest of this record can help you get lost for awhile, and “Ape-like” brings you back.

Califone is becoming one of those groups that sits above the rest of the pack, which is to say they’re one of a handful of bands that will be here for years to come. All My Friends Are Funeral Singers is indeed a true piece of art-work. It’s sound is made from real artists with a real appreciation for their craft.

Ryan Boos – October 12, 2009

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *