WAR ON DRUGS-“Wagonwheel Bluesâ€
Posted on June 25th, 2008 by ekko
It’s easy to dismiss War On Drugs as another Sonic Youth soundalike band, but if you do that, you’ll be doing them, and yourself, a big disservice. On this,
the band’s debut full-length, the unfortunately named band breaks out some of the best Americanapsychedelia I’ve ever heard, making tough, druggy rock that’s as classic as it is contemporary. If there’s any justice, the band will be discussed alongside My Bloody Valentine, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Pixies, Ryan Adams, and all the other indie greats.
What exactly is the album like? Well, “A Needle In Your Eye #16†sounds like Winn Butler covering
Springsteen’s “Working on the Highway.†“Arms Like Boulders,†like many of the songs on the record, has a strong Bob Dylan feel (from his mid-to-late ‘70s electrified period—the best Dylan out there). Even the instrumentals like “Reverse the Charges†and “Coast Reprise,†which some might call filler, fit nicely here—establishing mood and focus between songs that seem to be about everything and nothing at the same time. Indeed, War On Drugs have created an album—that elusive creature that has a beginning, middle, and end, and wasn’t made for this world of iTunes and mp3 downloads. “Wagonwheel Blues†is best listened to in its entirety, from track one to the end, so that you can bathe in its brilliance.
It is one of the best albums of the year, hands down.
Comment By: Stu
June 26th, 2008 at 2:19 am
I’m not totally crazy about the album, but I think “A Needle In Your Eye #16″ is a pretty great song. “Arms Like Boulders” is pretty great too. I wouldn’t have known about them if it wasn’t for your original post on Barrel of Batteries.
Thanks!
Comment By: MrPuding
July 13th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Thanks for this song i’ll get the album soon if it’s all like that
Thanks for the blog, cool to read
Merci pour la chanson