Dead Meadow
Old Growth
BY Chris Bilton
February 20, 2008 15:02
There was really no reason for Dead Meadow to stay in DC when they could have moved to LA — their syrupy blues licks and hazy ambience are just a little too mellow for the capital’s anxious straight-edgers. Dead Meadow’s sixth LP, Old Growth, is an aptly titled release as the trio are now firmly rooted in the fuzzy warmth of their sound — so much so that it’s not until track five that the groove starts to sway. From this mid-record momentum onwards, “I’m Gone” hints at the pop sensibilities of a less-erratic Brian Jonestown Massacre while “Seven Seers” marries the eastern promise of open tunings and tabla tapping with moody strings and slowly measured vocals. After nearly a decade, the slacker aesthetic bears little in the way of rocking tension; Old Growth may elicit an automatic head-nodding response, but it’s pretty unambitious even for stoner rock. CB
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