"Pray This Dam Don't Burn Yet" is the latest release from Cave Country; a four piece folk-indie-blues-rock act, hailing from the area of Highland Park, CA. Having a subtly daring, yet classic musical approach that feels just right to sip whiskey to, their sound has even been showcased on "Sons of Anarchy" via their tune "Panda Party" on a season 3 episode of the show. The band is comprised of Jim Reynolds, Evan ApRoberts, John Thompson and Andrew MacIver. Recently, I had the esteemed privilege of catching them play an intimate (6-band) backyard barbecue in the hills of the LA area, just before the release of the album. Lead guitar and vocalist, Jim, acknowledged that the upcoming summer tour and promotion of the new album is both "exciting and daunting at the same time." The excitement was actually all mine, as I slapped on my headphones and kept my auditory senses fixated on the new record for a good day and a half straight.
The nine track album, released June 9, 2011 is an album that's seemingly a recapitulation of-- and a soundtrack to-- a free-spirited journey through physical, mental and emotional road trips of the west. The acoustic rock sound is frequently infused with expert touches of harmonica, flute, keys, horns, traditional strings and creative percussion elements, set off by hypnotizing vocals and harmonizing.
Here's a rundown of Cave Country's latest baby… (found at http://cavecountryband.com/album/pray-this-dam-dont-burn-yet )
Pray This Dam Don't Burn Yet
1. Pray This Dam Don't Burn Yet
2. Huffrag
3. Travel Carrot
4. I'm Going Wrong
5. Stories
6. All We Could See Was the Sea
7. Magic
8. When You Ride
9. Cave Art
The album starts out with a slow, twangy saloon-worthy rendition of some cowboy blues on its title track. But rather than dwelling on woe-is-me sadness, "Pray This Dam Don't Burn Yet" is an uplifting proverb of reaching for great heights, stating "Don't let life pass you by. Don't let evil change your mind."
From the beginning of track two-- "Huffrag"-- I couldn't help but shake my hips and snap my fingers to the funky beat. Proclaiming "Kick up your feet and stay a while…. Just another night under the canyon," the soulful track paints a picture of traveling along life's roads (most likely in something comparable to a V-Dub bus), embracing the most desolate stops; the stops that one remembers because of the souls encountered and their locations off the beaten path.
The innocent, acoustic, almost lullaby-like sweetness of the sound of "Travel Carrot" is in remarkable contrast to the story told in the song. The story seems to be the account of a night years ago, laying in the cold dirt and air just adjacent to a cemetery; a memory of the sensations felt; a memory of being enveloped in beautiful, sweet, comforting morbidity.
The title of the fourth track on the album, "I'm Going Wrong," says it all for the classic sounding blues number. The song depicts an encounter in which the tear-stained visage of a brokenhearted bird is confronted; her eyes welling up with sadness. The song tells of how wrong the lyricist is for bringing her to this sad state; how wrong it is to do this to a lady. Yet it's an admission of how right it actually feels. The tune-- complemented by a satisfying blues guitar solo-- is a classic case of unrequited love and romantic disillusionment; its sound, seemingly born out of the deepest roots of Memphis' night scene.
"Stories" is an apropos country-rock blues number that asks the listener to take a good look around and notice that we're mostly alike. Though we're all different, we're one in the same with the rest of our lives ahead of us. But the song wisely reminds us to let go of those things and people that do not serve us in our own individual takes on (this "…big fuckin' game" of) life.
"All We Could See Was the Sea" tells of beach sunsets and ocean water that are as beautiful as the perfectly apportioned, harmonized vocals of the song. It's a flower-childesque melody that conjures up visions of hitchin' a ride up the west coast circa 1969.
The hypnotic drum tap on the album's seventh track-- "Magic"-- echoes in reminiscence of how a song or a certain person's smile can nip the blues in the bud. A lyrical excerpt from the song states "As we walk side by side bathing in light… sing our blues away." The slow romance of the song makes you close your eyes, breathe a sigh of longing, and shake-- not nod-- your head in agreement to the beat.
"When You Ride" is another track on the album that is tastefully accented with a country twang. It tells of riding through life's moments, making your own personal history and reflecting on the past. The sheer poetry of the lyrics, in addition to the accompanying trumpet, psychedelic layers and strings in the song tell of how we crawl and ride along through life.
The closing song is one of the most emotionally moving tracks, and serves as a perfect wrap to this folk-indie-blues-rock journey. The ethereal voices of the band members on "Cave Art" are the flickering flame of a candle; the wax comprised of perfectly mastered instrumental talent, complete with what sounds like added touches of mandolin, woodwinds, horns, and creative percussive accents. As lead vocalist, Jim soulfully croons "When it's time for leaving… I just wish you'd been there all along," the organic, yet elaborate sound of the tune creates a welcomed heaviness in the listener's heart.
"Pray This Dam Don't Burn Yet" is a nine track collection of Cave Country's latest songs; a beautiful addition to the aspect of the music industry that is free of labels and politics. Kudos to Cave Country for their earthy, moving and satisfying folk-rock masterpiece of an album!
~Meow~
Pennies
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