Bombadil – A Buzz, a Buzz
They may be a bit of a folky band for the most part, but they can produce a mean indie riff when they so choose; see Rosetta Stone and the beginning of Johnny for evidence.
In fact, without changing their sound especially they seem to be able to inconspicuously slip from quirky folk to indie to melodic pop and back, all the while sounding very much like themselves.
I don’t what else I can add to this description. If there’s a bum note on this record, and there is only one, I would say it was Julian of Norwich which is a sort of English cod-folk and just seems to miss the target. Maybe it’s because it’s a pastiche of a genre I’m too familiar with to quite pass over the bits where it doesn’t quite click, which I might not notice at all if the style in question were less familiar.
Other than that though, I can’t find anything about this that I don’t like. It’s not heart-caressingly gorgeous exactly, so not something I am going to go gooey over, but for the most part this is just a great big stamp of approval for every single song. And to make matters even better, I am going to see them at this year’s Pickathon Festival in Portland.
Bombadil – Trip Out West
Bombadil – Johnny
I love this album. I agree with your opinion of Julian of Norwich entirely. Brilliant album, though. Becoming my fave this year, so far…
Hmmm. They’re playing in Washington DC on May 10. As I say, hmmm.
No hmmmm about it. Please go and see them, just for us on the other side of the atlantic.
what a brilliant piano sound! liking the sound of this and will be checking it out in more detail in the near future. maybe you can get it for me for my birthday matthew??!! ;O) anyways, another fantastic tip.