Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Fainting Goats - Cambria Pines

7/10/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Fainting Goats

Cambria Pines
self-released; 2015

3.9 out of 5

By Jamie Robash

Fainting Goats sophomore release Cambria Pines is a succinctly different record than their debut Native Sounds of the Golden West. Though the word “different” seems a bit of a misnomer owing to the fact that Cambria Pines with its ‘60s alt-country bathed in Americana and folk, reminiscent of Grateful Dead but with much more brevity, and at times even skirting the mid-period work of R.E.M., is a far cry from the lo-fi indie rock feel of Native Sounds of the Golden West.

With Cambria Pines, the Santa Cruz four-piece have diversified their sound, taking on tones of wispy alt-rock, harkening back to the golden days of the California country bands born out of the ‘70s. It is a rather seismic shift in sound, though Fainting Goats largely prove they can hold their own.

The path is not without its trials however. The album’s opener “Buttonwillow” is a hokey, sing-song-y alt country flavored tune. Its trite construction tells a story, and manages to rhyme the last line of the verse with “Buttonwillow.” Likewise “Life Can't Hold You” has the same hackneyed feeling to it and contains a late ‘90s mainstream pop rock feel to it.

Cambria Pines does begin to show rather nicely starting with “Fire Can and Tom Tom” which combines the bands pop sensibilities with some ‘70s twang and wah-wah guitar jams. Here Fainting Goats sound awake for the first time on Cambria Pines. That life, though slightly more subdued sounding, continues on the rambling rocker, “Sister Hold Tight to the Line,” which also includes some of the albums most impressive vocal harmonies. This flow of mellow ‘70s inspired folk rock continues on the beautiful “Javelina” which has a nice flair of Allman Brothers inspired guitar.

“Not Afraid to Die” sees the band creating a slow moving and heartfelt lamentation on life, while the rambling bluesy twang of “Cutting Down Our Dreams” picks up the pace once again and leads into the shiny and happy closer “Wink.”

At the very core of Cambria Pines one hears music that is generated from the hearts of musicians who care about the music they’re playing. It can be heard in every drum tap, bass line, guitar pluck and vocal. To listen to their now two albums back to back, one would be hard pressed to believe that these two records are from the same band. And the fact that Fainting Goats were able to make two solid records which both sound so different is a testament to their long practiced craft.
Become A Fan
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band
© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact