Quicksand / Cradlesnakes

I love this band and just blown away by their talent. If you are getting to know Caliphone, this is one of those albums to start with. It really encompasses all their sounds evenly and has a timeless quality that has made it one of my favorite records.

Califone's best, out of print, go amazon.

I thought I had a pretty good overview on alternative country, americana and relatedgenres, where this belong, but somehow Califone have slipped under my radar.With the exception of the hard to get "Deceleration One" I have bought everything theyhave released the last couple of months, and I'm amazed I haven't picked up on themearlier, as all their albums hold a lot of truly fantastic songs.On "Quicksand/Cradlesnakes" you get "Michigan Girls", a real stunner with guitar,cello swells and careful percussion. Another is "Your Golden Ass", a rattling guitarromp that has a resemblance to some of Beck's first recordings and Sebadoh's shiniestmoments. Other good songs include "Red", the slow bluesgroove of "When Leon SpinxMoved To Town", "Horoscopic. Amputation. Honey" and "Vampiring Again", the lattershow Califone at their catchiest and most accessible side, but even in such a sweetsong, there's the odd burst of jangle to splinter the harmonies.A highly original outfit. Comparisons are pretty futile, but I will be surprised if thisdoesn't go down well with fans of Sparklehorse. I think Califone, on occasions, soundlike Sparklehorse combined with the best elements of post-rock(experimental andquirky, but not too self-indulgent)and a small dose of trip-hop."Roots And Crowns" and "Sometimes Good Weather Follows Bad People" are alsomagnificent albums, and if you get hooked on Califone, it's easy to hit the order buttonto get their entire production. Regardless of your personal economy. Food is important,but great music, espresso and tobacco will always be the preferred breakfast of champions.

Straddling the line between alt-country band and wild, avant-garde studio project, Califone has a voracious appetite for experimentation. They also know how to write a good song. Quicksand/Cradlesnakes is adventurous, hightly textured, and occasionally out-there.Percussionist Ben Masserella lays down positively thick rhythm tracks, putting all kinds of found objects to work. A standard drum kit is used on only a few songs. On the rest, shakers, various metallic clinks and clanks, buzzes, and de-tuned tom-toms drive the music forward. Sometimes the percussion threatens to outshine the rest of the band with its constantly shifting intricacies.The ambient sounds Califone achieves here (with the help of producer Graeme Gibson) are impressive. Listen on headphones, and you'll hear amps buzzing, musicians coughing, and fingers sliding across guitar strings. This decidedly un-slick production makes every sound on the record seem up-close, as though you're hearing it live in the studio rather than through your stereo.Of course, all of this expert studio technique is worth nothing without good songs to back it up. Fortunately, singer-songwriter Tim Rutili delivers. The pensive "Horoscopic Amputation Honey" opens the record with Rutili's warm rasp and spare piano chords rising and falling over a slow steady beat. The lyrics are oblique, fractured almost, but they fit the music perfectly. "Buzzing like a worn out fret," he sings, in what could be a description of his band's sound. "We'll cut our hair and fake our death." The stomping, Velvet Underground-esque "Your Golden Ass" is a standout, with its dueling drum kits and stuttering, distorted guitar. But the real winner is "Vampiring Again". It sounds like a lost country-rock classic, boasting an aching melody, wistful lyrics, and a heartfelt vocal.Quicksand/Cradlesnake establishes Califone as an ambitious band with the songwriting chops to back up its penchant for studio strangeness. The album might not be their defining masterpiece --a few of the songs get lost in murkiness -- but it definitely points them in the right direction.Tyler WilcoxJunkmedia.org Review

Genre(s): Experimental, Bluegrass, Indie RockThe Music: They rely heavily on string instruments such as the bango, acoustic, slide and electric guitars, mandolin and fiddle. Add to that, simple piano chords, experimental sounds of buzzing, kitchen sink clinking and clanging, and a sharp focus on percussion and you've got Califone.Who to compare them to: Well, there's the obvious comparison to Wilco (esp. since they've toured together), but Califone is definitely quirkier.Vocals: Tim Rutili, subtly backed by Jim Becker and Gabrielle McLaughlin, has a gravely, easygoing melodic voice, remarkably similar to Lyle Lovett. There isn't any belt-out singing on this record, the focus is more on the music, and the vocals work as a perfect accompaniment.Standout Songs: Horoscopic Amputation Honey, Michigan Girls, Your Golden Ass, Million Dollar FuneralAdditional commentary: This is the only album I own by Califone. I've learned from various reviews that their previous albums, though interesting, were somewhat inconsistent and awkward and this album stands out as their best work yet. My only qualm with this album is that the end fizzles out into similar sounding songs, which are long and redundant. But for the songs they deliver up to track 9, it's definitely worth owning and getting regular play.

I thought I had a pretty good overview on alternative country, americana and relatedgenres, where this belong, but somehow Califone have slipped under my radar.With the exception of the hard to get "Deceleration One" I have bought everything theyhave released the last couple of months, and I'm amazed I haven't picked up on themearlier, as all their albums hold a lot of truly fantastic songs.On "Quicksand/Cradlesnakes" you get "Michigan Girls", a real stunner with guitar,cello swells and careful percussion. Another is "Your Golden Ass", a rattling guitarromp that has a resemblance to some of Beck's first recordings and Sebadoh's shiniestmoments. Other good songs include "Red", the slow bluesgroove of "When Leon SpinxMoved To Town", "Horoscopic. Amputation. Honey" and "Vampiring Again", the lattershow Califone at their catchiest and most accessible side, but even in such a sweetsong, there's the odd burst of jangle to splinter the harmonies.A highly original outfit. Comparisons are pretty futile, but I will be surprised if thisdoesn't go down well with fans of Sparklehorse. I think Califone, on occasions, soundlike Sparklehorse combined with the best elements of post-rock(experimental andquirky, but not too self-indulgent)and a small dose of trip-hop."Roots And Crowns" and "Sometimes Good Weather Follows Bad People" are alsomagnificent albums, and if you get hooked on Califone, it's easy to hit the order buttonto get their entire production. Regardless of your personal economy. Food is important,but great music, espresso and tobacco will always be the preferred breakfast of champions.