Search - Court & Spark :: Dead Diamond River

As good as alt.country gets

Mike Smith | Albuquerque, NM | 10/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a timeless, high quality alt.country e.p. The Court & Spark are a perfect alt.country band--their music never feels like it never has to TRY to be anything--it just is--and it's just perfect. It's got a lazy country feel, but it's vocals are undeniably rock-influenced, and it feels real, like being outdoors in the West. You could say it's the audio equivalent of Cormac McCarthy's writing: well-crafted, evocative, genuine, and intricate. It feels right, and good.

This e.p. starts off with "Invercargill," a groovin' experimental instrumental piece, flows into the outstanding "Lucia" with its loving portrait of a lovely girl and of being young, drifts along lazily through "Bar the Door, Davy," rocks out acoustic-style with "First Light at Avalon"--featuring some of the e.p.'s best steel guitar, and incorporates harmonica and electronic-sounding bongo drums into the jaunty "Hallelujah II."

Every song on this e.p. is great, and it's a great representative of what this terrific band is capable of, and a good introduction to them."