Album Review ∞ The Waifs: sundirtwater
What better way to celebrate St. Patty’s Day than to review an Americana album performed by Australians?
If you have been reading The Late Greats for a while, you know I love The Waifs. If you Hype Machine or Elbows them, you will see a gaggle of Late Greats Waifs posts
As for their new album, sundirtwater, it’s more of what makes them great. Dirty guitar sounds, blues harmonica swells, beautiful sisterly vocal harmonies, lyrics about love (both un- and requited), simply acoustic instruments arrangements.
From an artistic standpoint, the album isn’t a masterpiece. The songs don’t stop you in your tracks with their complexity. They often repeat the first verse as the third. Sonically, the sound stays true to their roots (Roots Music if you will) throughout the 13 tracks.
If this album if differs from their earlier work in anyway, I would say it is more raw, more bluesy, more humid (the songs stick to you like sweat at a Forth of July parade).
That said, I still freaking LOVE it. Josh, Vikki and Donna are not Bob Dylan (even if they have opened for him on tour). It’s not a “great” album from a critical point of view. But one I will listen to for years to come.
Rating: Da Capo Al Fine =
Siamese Dream
(Confused about the ratings scale? Check out my sidebar.)
Listen:
The Waifs ∞ Sun Dirt Water
The Waifs ∞ Without You
Bonus original version of Without You for comparison:
The Waifs ∞ Without You
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3 hullabaloos:
Hey Duke, I too love The Waifs, I discovered them back when they released Sink Or Swim, then I got Up All Night. Loved both albums and I am so glad to hear they finally have a new one. Can't wait to get my hands on it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Tam
Can't wait to "Take It In"..the new album that is :-)
I told you this from the beginning but I'm a huge waifs fan from their first trip to North America when they still played small venues and festivals. I saw them in Australia too. I love the title track in this album a lot but wish there was more Donna songs in the album.
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