Search - Volebeats :: Sky And The Ocean

Quiet country harmonies

08/27/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Volebeats are a lesser-known, lumped-into-the alternative-country-scene band. But they're better than most of those bands. They actually play pop, too. Sky and the Ocean is an excellent album, sounding at times like a cross between old REM, Son Volt, and Chris Isaak. The album opens with "Somewhere in My Heart" a midtempo song of longing that sets the tone for what follows: Rickenbacker twang, quiet hurt harmonies, and understated musicianship. The second song, "It's Alright," showcases the band's ability to write strummy pop singalongs and also highlights pretty, inspired guitar melodies reminiscent of the godhead playing on "There She Goes" by the La's. Lots of bands try that, few get you feeling transcendent like that with a few picks of the Rickenbacker. The Volebeats pull it off. The album's strength, however, remains the face-down-in-a-beer melancholy of such songs as "Two Seconds," where the narrator implores that two seconds of a girl's time is all he needs to manage; "Drifting," with its woozy pedal steel, fuzzy beating-heart bass, and near-sleep sadsack lyrics; and "Thought I was the One," with its vocals and piano pain of the rejected. Another pop standout is "Annabel," which opens sounding musically like a track off Chris Isaak's "Forever Blue" and boasts a lovely, longing harmony on the chorus. Lyrics (like "I was lost until you were found" off of "Annabel") seem a weak point, I suppose, but the Volebeats are happy not reinventing the wheel or breaking down any artistic walls. So we can't really hold that against them. Besides, who really likes pompous stuff that tries too hard, anyway? If you like drinking beers or just chilling out to albums like "Trace" or "Automatic for the People," you'll be very pleased to have uncovered this great, simple album. I wish this album was in a bar juke near my house. No such luck. I'm still stuck with crap like Journey and Meatloaf."

The Only Countryish CD In My Collection

E. Drouillard | Novi, MI United States | 03/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a well-rounded, great sounding record. All the songs are simply bittersweet nuggets - lots of subtle acoustic guitar, airy drum work, shimmering lead guitar, and gorgeous vocal harmonies. The two songwriters have complementary styles that only improve with repeated listens. And contrary to what the first reviewer said, the lyrics are excellant, if simple. Trust me, these guys are the kings of the "lonesome" country love song and this is their best effort yet."