Another keeper by a great Midwest band
Sal Nudo | Champaign, Illinois | 11/17/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Backyard Tire Fire is amazingly capable of plaintive, emotive acoustic ditties, such as what's heard on the opening title track of this great album. But the three-piece band is also able to hold its own with fired-up rockers like "Tom Petty," a tune that offers up an envious nod to that influential and historic musician. At times there's a somewhat darker, more psychedelic feel to this disc compared to BTF's debut record, Bar Room Semantics. A few of the tunes even hauntingly flow together, one to the other, like "A Long Time," arguably the best song on the CD. Still, BTF's penchant for easy pop shines through on such toe-tapping tracks as "Undecided" and "Don't Know What To Do."
There's not one dud on this entire album. Whether delivering soulful country rock gems like "Green Eyed Soul" and "Get Wise" or performing atmospheric wonders like "Apparitions," the music on "Vagabonds and Hooligans" never fails to stay interesting -- and the album kind of flies by before you realize it's over. Ed Anderson's voice is sweetly but achingly strained on a few of the lower-key songs, giving them even more depth and character. As ever, his lyrics are poetic and poignant: "Every new day is a chance to change, have a change of heart/Every new day is a chance to change, make a brand new start," he sings on the sublime tune "Corinne." Synth, slide guitar, a dobro, violin and other interesting effects add further weight to some beautiful sounds throughout.
Saying these guys received their influences from the Black Crowes and countless other bands of the same ilk is way too easy. The bruised, brooding words of Anderson are themselves a unique entity to this group's sound that separates it from many lesser ones. Adept at adopting both a tough and tender side to its sound, BTF knows how to captivate a rock `n' roll audience with the best of `em. Highly recommended.
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Track Listings (12) - Disc #1