Not what it could have been
Michael Toland | Austin, TX USA | 05/23/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I hate to say it, but the new band led by Sid Griffin (80s country rock pioneers the Long Ryders, the Coal Porters) just isn't that good. They start off promisingly with the dreamy opening track, but the slow, ethereal sounds get old fast, especially since the melodies aren't strong enough to hold much interest. Griffin was never the world's greatest tunesmith anyway, and here his slight songs get lost in a vaguely psychedelic C&W haze, like the Byrds on Quaaludes. I wanted to like this, but in truth it bores me to tears. The pseudo-spiritual lyrics don't help. The pedal steel work is very nice, however.
"
...the thread unravels...
D. Levy | New York, NY USA | 10/23/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Western Electric is the latest from Sid Griffin, formerly of the Long Ryders and the Coal Porters, and author of a great biography of Gram Parsons. Now relocated to London, Griffin has found local partners who have aided him in bringing forth the millenium version of the great sound pulled from the ether by Parsons, McGuinn, Hillman, Young, Dylan and the rest...and brought into the present with gorgeous songs and brand new sounds. This is really well worth hearing!"
A Grower
D. Levy | 09/01/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In the novel High Fidelity , a record that grows on you is referred to as a "grower," and Western Electric is definitely a grower. Give it one listen, you'll find it somewhat slower-tempo'ed than what you'd expect from Griffin. After two listenings, certain songs will begin to haunt you. After three, you will have been grown-upon. The album builds up, layer by layer, and though it's a cliche to say it, it is definitely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. It will be one of those CDs you'll probably play once a day for three months, assuming you're sympathetic to the genre, you'll sing certain tunes at odd moments and even in public places, and then pull the CD out every once in a while because certain cuts will continue to haunt. An achievement for Griffin & Company."