Right from the opening salvo of this 9-track album, I knew I would love it. “Listen to the Cold” is woven out of so many sonic threads that appeal to me – an understated take on Springsteen-esque Americana, a slightly Waitsian growl curling around the edges of the vocals, poetic and poignant lyrics, spacious yet resonant guitar licks, wonderful washes of organ and a rhythm section that goes about their job in an unfussy and song-serving way. Man, what else could you ask for? Well, another eight songs displaying the same sort of sonic smarts, apparently.
Well, here you go, then. “Love Is a Terrible Thing to Waste” is slightly funky (again, thanks to a smart engine room), running on a great interplay between increasingly adventurous guitar licks and some mellifluous and marvelous keys, which together create a great call-and-response sonic vibe.
“Flip Jam” is slightly psychedelic, slightly jazz-infused, “Perpetual Change” is a strange soundscape, string-washed and somewhat off-kilter, leaning even further into those Tom Waits vibes I mentioned earlier, and “Warmth of the Fire” is a brilliantly understated blues torch song.
The Ram is proof that you don’t have to look for new sounds; all you have to do is take the existing classics and combine them in new and unpredictable ways. Fresh yet familiar, brave, and brilliant!