Spring Break
Band of Heathens offers clichéd country sounds
review
Shaina Zucker
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
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The local Austin group will put out its first studio album May 20 after being dubbed "best new band" at the Austin Music Awards last year.
There are some country singers whom I can respect because their music has meaning and direction. They are trying to tell a story about something that filled them with enough passion to write a song. Those types of country songs aren't my cup of tea either, but at least they demand respect from me.
They don't contain the clichéd topics conveyed in many bad country songs. Some of those topics include cowboy boots, a heartbroken man or a stretch of road that seems endless.
Unfortunately, this album has all of those things, which only reiterates my point.
The song "Cornbread" particularly stung my ears. It was about exactly what the title implies - how the singer likes his cornbread.
His scratchy voice tells us all he likes his cornbread with "a little bit of butter" and on the back porch swing. "My baby's corn bread makes me want to come home." Classic.
Some may classify this song as lighthearted, but I only see it as a tune to hear while riding in a truck bed.
The song "Maple Tears" talks about a girl. "She could have been from Oklahoma if she didn't live so far away." That line alone was a little confusing, but with an open mind, I continued to listen.
Then the song proceeded to call her a "prairie girl." If the song is supposed to be as serious as the rhythm and title would imply, then I think the band should have done a better job to make the overall tone follow suit.
I felt like the chord progressions were predictable as far as country music goes. The band calls itself country mixed with rock and blues, but all that I could hear was the slide guitar and twang in the singer's voice that screams country music.
Those things, in collaboration with meaningless songs, add up to a clichéd country album. They may enjoy that type of thing down in Austin, but in Denton, we've had more than our fair share.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 35
JerryJeff51
posted 3/09/08 @ 12:37 PM CST
Shaina, Shaina, Shaina,
The Band of Heathens' song "Cornbread" has NOTHING to do with boring, real cornbread, at all, as you state in your review (I agree butterring cornbread, and sticky fingers in the dough, etc, is normally boring). (Continued…)
Jay
posted 3/15/08 @ 12:27 PM CST
This is indeed great music!
Shaina, I believe you really missed it here. There is a richness in sound that is genuine. You miss the sweetness of the melodies. (Continued…)
Ken
posted 3/15/08 @ 1:05 PM CST
This is magnificent music. I do believe that if you had a seasoned ear, you would hear that talent of this group is undeniable. This is music that is beautifully crafted. (Continued…)
Brian Stephens
posted 3/15/08 @ 2:45 PM CST
You definitely don't speak for Denton.
I question the credibility of any alleged music critic that makes closed-minded declarations like "country music eats away at me from within every time I hear it" to begin a review. (Continued…)
Jim Donovan
posted 3/15/08 @ 4:41 PM CST
Let me begin by saying that I have personally seen the Band of Heathens live. They are an amazing group of talented artists.I wholeheartedly agree with Brian. (Continued…)
Regina
posted 3/19/08 @ 5:53 PM CST
Shaina, girl, I have the number of a great ENT doctor, apparently your hearing is greatly impaired. The Band of Heathens are an amazing group of talented musicians and songwriters. (Continued…)
Sandy Freund
posted 3/20/08 @ 4:05 PM CST
This is about the finest American music that is being crafted today. It's amazing that a critic could malign this music relative to two songs that she contemplates. (Continued…)
SABA
posted 3/22/08 @ 8:24 AM CST
I saw these guys last night at Dan's Silverleaf. People from Denton do yourself a favor. Go see the band of heathens and watch a live performance. These guys are beyond great! They are amazingly gifted artists! Thank God there is music like this still being created!
There is a rich, soulful experience in seeing these guys perform live. (Continued…)
Shark
posted 3/30/08 @ 8:53 PM CST
Apparently most music buffs disagree with you Shaina. You really should not be touting your opinon as a Music Review as someone might mistakably think you are qualified to render a bonafide critic's review. (Continued…)
BC
posted 3/30/08 @ 10:40 PM CST
"Shark," I'm curious as to what years of critiquing critiques that you have done to make your opinion about Shaina legitimate. It would probably be a good idea to acquire the credentials to critique anything before critiquing it, if you get my drift. (Continued…)
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