Posted on: August 28, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0
Angus Crowne and the Family Jewels

Cold Soup is the first track on the new album from Angus Crowne and the Family Jewels, and it immediately comes forth with a hooky alt-rock building off the style of Talking Heads and Radiohead, with hints They Might Be Giants. There is an earlier musical tradition coming forth here as Angus Crowne pulls influence from the B-52s and Willie Nelsons. This eclectic opening ensures that fans will be treated time and time again to tracks that are wholly different from where the act initially started.

Heart and Soul brings back the surf and folk style to prominence. The narrative that is fostered here is matched well by an incredibly complex sort of instrumentation, something that is presented quite nicely with Lounge Dog.

Lullaby Blues is a wholly different beast than the opening segment of the album. The stripped-down, fuzzy guitar rock has hints of punk, Detroit rock, and crashing waves of sound. The guitar line that rises and falls keeps things fun until the track hurtles to an end at the 100 second mark. Paycheck slows things back down for a more contemplative, sunny sort of composition. With a twinkling arrangement, this late-effort track links up nicely to the build of songs on this eponymous album. The album concludes with Smitty’s Calling. The dynamic built up between the vocals and instrumentation allows each element to gradually increase in speed. Angus Crowne’s guitar work that intersperses this track is reminiscent of 1970s players like Santana and Neil Young, something made all the more interesting when compared to the rest of the disc. Angus Crowne and the Family Jewels comes forth with an album that deftly moves through genres and styles without losing the essence of Crowne himself.

Top Tracks: Heart and Soul, Lullaby Blues

Rating: 8.3/10

Angus Crowne and the Family Jewels – S/T / 2016 Self / 10 Tracks / http://www.anguscrowne.com/ / https://www.facebook.com/Angus-Crowne-1728534427418847/

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