The Sadies “Darker Circles” (Yeproc 2010)
Canadian alt-country band The Sadies have always offered up music that’s a cut above the mediocre, whether paddling their own canoe or on their many collaborations (Neko Case, John Doe, Jon Langford & Andre Williams amongst them), the band have a seriously high quality back catalogue, then there is their legendary live shows – which I’ve personally yet to enjoy but will one day set the record straight.
Recorded in two sessions a “marathon” twelve day at the “Bathhouse” studio plus five at the Woodshed in Toronto the band have put together arguably their strongest release yet slimming down the number of instrumentals to a single one the album is stronger for it.
The clue to the albums under lying theme is in the title of the album and borne out in the tracks; Another Year Again “…it won’t be long until all your hopes and dreams are gone…” contrasted against the songs rhythm and pace before crashing to a close, Cut Corners against a background of haunting guitar, “… one day I’ll straighten out before I get lost again…”, Tell Her What I Said “…too sick and tired to put up a fight I turn to oblivion night after night…”, even when the mood of the instrumentation is lighter there’s still room for regret Idle Tomorrows “…wasting hours, days counting sorrows, like idle tomorrows”, fittingly the album’s single instrumental, a moody spaghetti western number, book-ends the whole package.
Highly recommended and released on vinyl too, making it an irresistible purchase.
The Sadies – Cut Corners