Artist: The Cactus Blossoms
Album: You're Dreaming
Bitrate: 227kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Red House
Genre: Rock
Size: 58.26 megs
PlayTime: 0h 34min 00sec total
Rip Date: 2016-01-29
Store Date: 2016-01-29
Track List:
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01. Stoplight Kisses 2:17
02. You're Dreaming 3:25
03. Queen of Them All 3:40
04. Clown Collector 2:22
05. Mississippi 4:01
06. Powder Blue 2:23
07. Change Your Ways Or Die 3:25
08. If I Can't Win 3:17
09. No More Crying The Blues 2:03
10. Adios Maria 4:09
11. Traveler's Paradise 2:58
Release Notes:
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Going old school in music is no longer an alternative to the mainstream, it is
one of the commonalities found across all popular genres. ItÆs a symptom of an
industry that is out of ideas and systematically stifles creativity. Funky R&B
and the Muscle Shoals sound is the flavor of the day, even in country. This
development might sound like something the old soul music listener would stand
up and cheer for, but not every new artist is cut out to play old music. Most of
them are downright terrible at it.
Mainstream country music stars shouldnÆt fancy they possess the funkiness and
soul of The Meters. ThatÆs because music is either in your blood, or it isnÆt.
ItÆs either a sin for someone not to share it because itÆs so inherent in them,
or theyÆre just a pretender. You canÆt switch the style of your music just
because itÆs where the trends are headed and expect to produce something
lasting. It takes years of discipline and study to result in music that is truly
worthwhile.
Brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum from Minneapolis, Minnesota did not sit
down one day and decide that the world was hungry for the second coming of the
Everly Brothers and set out to fill that gap. They conjoined their voices
together in song and thatÆs what happened to come out. But it is the study and
discipline, and the loyalty to the style that has taken them from filling a
niche in neotraditional music, to now releasing an album that will stand the
test of time, just like the work of their predecessors.
If thereÆs any knock on their sophomore release Your Dreaming, itÆs that itÆs
almost too similar to the Everly Brothers, resulting in a mark against them on
the originality scale. But even though this may sound like sacrilege to some,
IÆm not sure even The Everly Brothers ever put out an album this oceanic in
depth and reach cover to cover.
All one had to do was see The Cactus Blossoms live to understand the potential
this duo had. Part of the reason the music found such a resonant groove is
because it was forged on a stage in front of people at the Turf Club in St. Paul
during a now semi-famous residency. That is where the brothers discovered their
sound and honed it to the reception of the audience. The brothers have released
a couple of albums since their formation in 2010, including the much-coveted
Live at the Turf Club, but after the release of Your Dreaming, itÆs almost as if
these previous releases disappeared. They can no longer be located on their
website or on Spotify or other places. You have to go digging to find them. ItÆs
because YouÆre Dreaming is all you need to know, and the brothers seemed to
understand this will be one of those career-defining albums.
the-cactus-blossoms-youre-dreamingUnder the wide shadow being cast by Dave Cobb
and his recent producership efforts, throwback rock and roll musician and
songwriter JD McPherson has been putting together one fierce run of excellent
albums himself. The Cactus Blossoms were flattered when McPherson called them
and wanted to make an album, and the result was magic. As much praise as you can
lump on the brothers for this record, possibly McPherson and the backing band he
assembled deserve praise in equal measure. The understanding and love they
approach these songs with, including never encroaching on the brothersÆ
harmonies and getting right at the heart of the mood each composition looked to
evoke, itÆs shiver-inducing. Rarely has sparsity expressed so much.
A big concern heading into this album was how the brothers would find a way to
demonstrate some variety with their music. Even the greatest of singing pairs
can get tiresome to the ears after multiple songs of the same approach,
especially when your sound is so stripped down. But YouÆre Dreaming is
deliciously spicy and surprising in its depth of expressions. ThereÆs the
billowy love songs like ôPowder Blue,ö and thereÆs old fashioned rock and roll
with the Alton & Jimmy song ôNo More Crying The Blues.ö The album does so much
with so little.
This isnÆt a project thatÆs just all about styling either. The 10 originals of
YouÆre Dreaming are touching, insightful, entertaining, and expression-filled.
The song that might say the most is ôChange Your Ways Or Die.ö It feels similar
to Hurray For The Riff RaffÆs ôThe Body Electricö from a few years ago in the
way that it says so much more than you think at first take, and could go one to
define on of the high points in Americana for the coming year.
It feels like almost an insult, or at least a fruitless enterprise to entertain
the idea that one could express in words what the harmonies of The Cactus
Blossoms do for stirring the soul, so I wonÆt even try. But upon all the other
accolades YouÆre Dreaming deserves, the tops might be the quality of singing
evidenced, and not just in the close harmony style indicative of the Everlys and
Louvins before them. Even in individual moments, both Jack Torrey and Page
Burkum give such purity to the words and sounds, you have no choice but to go
back 50 years to find comparisons.
A band like The Cactus Blossoms is still a niche enterprise for sure, and so the
appeal wonÆt be felt by everyone. But the artistry is virtually unmatched, and
the result is near perfection.