The state of alt country is in good hands with groups like Limbeck. Like the Honeydogs, Limbeck has taken the lead in the genre since the demise of The Jayhawks and my apparent disappointment of the latest Wilco album. In the past Limbeck couldn’t seem to reconcile the country leanings and sugary pop tendencies. On this album they come together perfectly. Limbeck frontman Robb MacLean tells a great bunch of road stories that are pure Americana with a West Coast laid-back flavor. There is no filler on this album and every song seems to flow at it’s own smooth pace, suited for lazy sunday afternoons in summertime. The details here show a finely crafted masterpiece. “Big Drag” has a bluesy beat with little Sax flourishes that has a awesome chorus. “Let Me Come Home” almost sounds like a country-flavored Fountains of Wayne tune. Even a slow country ballad “Reading The Street Signs” gets a bit of Beach Boys harmonies. “Wake Up” is a Tom Petty styled rocker that keeps your toe tappin’ with excellent guitar riffs. “Your Story” has some great harmonic shifts and chord changes that is the stuff of greatness and my favorite track on the album. This is definely on my top ten list this year and if you are an alt country fan this is a “must-have” album. Listen to the album streaming on the Pure Volume site.
Limbeck’s Site | My Space | Pure Volume | Not Lame