“All Your Favorite Bands” by Dawes (Philby Album Award Winner) https://philmaq.com/philbys/2016-philby-album-award-winners/ is another album that starts right off with a great hook and then continues to supply them all the way through the album!
This is Day 5 of my “New Rotations: Albums” list! These are albums that are still in my listening rotation beyond what I would consider to be a normal run on my music player. They are post influence forming, but are awesome nonetheless! They should have been deleted long ago to make room for other music, yet I like them so much, I break my own rules for this music.
“Things Happen” the leadoff track, tells you in its “cliche” title, that pretty much things don’t work out: life, relationships, albums…
Nothing feels right. Ever. Most of the characters in the song never find happiness. It seems like they either carry a torch for former lovers or keep waiting for the other shoe to fall.
The songs on the album features excellent understated drumming by Griffin Goldsmith, with beats and rhythms that keep the listener off balance.
The arrangements are expertly constructed. Take for example, “Don’t Send Me Away.” Harmonies vary throughout the song and just when you think the song has nowhere to go, in steps Taylor Goldsmith, (lead guitarist, lead vocalist), with a jarring solo that takes the song to an even higher level.
I should also mention the terrific keyboard play of Tray Strathairn and intricate bass play of Wylie Gelber!
There is an extended jam as the final track on “All Your Favorite Bands,” “Now That It’s Too Late, Maria.” A jam that features wonderful harmonies as the guitar solo builds!
Brilliant song after brilliant song: “Somewhere Along the Way,” “Don’t Send Me Away,” “To Be Completely Honest.”
Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings, and super studio musician, Tim Bennett, guest on the album.
But there is still a foreboding, morose feel to the album summed up in the lyrics of the the title track, “All Your Favorite Bands.” The singer makes a bittersweet wish that’s impossible because, you know, “things happen,” but it’s a wonderful wish nontheless:
I hope your brother’s El Camino runs forever/
I hope the world sees the same person that you always were to me/
And may all your favorite bands stay together.
Hmm. An album that feels sad but sounds happy. Where have we heard that before? I know. Every Jackson Browne [Hall of Fame] album I’ve ever listened to! Oh, and what a surprise, Jackson made a guest appearance on one of Dawes early albums!
Coincidence? I think not!
Here’s Philby Song Award Winner https://philmaq.com/philbys/2017-philby-song-award-winners/ “Right on Time”:
Album 6 will be very soon…
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The List so far:
Day 4: “Revolutions” by The Liquid Scene: https://philmaq.com/2018/05/day-4-of-new-rotations-list-revolutions-by-the-liquid-scene/
Day 3: “Vandenberg’s MoonKings” by Vandenberg’s MoonKings: https://philmaq.com/2018/05/day-3-vandenbergs-moonkings-by-vandenbergs-moonkings/
Day 2: “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You” by Phil Lee: https://philmaq.com/2018/04/day-2-of-new-rotations-list-so-long-its-been-good-to-know-you-by-phil-lee/
Day 1: “Brill Bruisers” by The New Pornographers: https://philmaq.com/2018/04/day-1-of-new-rotations-list-brill-brusiers-by-the-new-pornographers/
New Rotation List Introduction: https://philmaq.com/2018/04/phils-maqs-ten-rotation-albums-new-introduction/
