Southern Hospitality Sounds So Good
Wild Sweet Orange with a delicious debut.
Wild Sweet Orange
We Have Cause To Be Uneasy
Released on Jul 29, 2008
Birmingham, Alabama's Wild Sweet Orange really do live up to their tasty name. We Have Cause To Be Uneasy exhibits the reckless folk-Ppnk abandon of Old 97's and Replacements, but tugs at your heart strings just like Elliot Smith did. The very personal lyrics place the listener in between the pages making you a member of singer Preston Lovinggood's "pissed off generation."
Like any smart band, Wild Sweet Orange formed out of the necessity to avoid the workweek. Success is close at hand it would seem. They've already landed a track ("Land Of No Return") featured in the hit making show Grey's Anatomy, but don't let that turn you off. Patrick Dempsey starred in the fantastic pizza delivery boy prostitution film Loverboy, so it can't all be bad?
Preston Lovinggood's voice is a soaring and powerful tool that lends greatly to this stunning debut. Stand out track "Tilt" starts off innocent enough, recalling the gentleness of early Semisonic, but then veers into a chill-inducing chorus Built To Spill could only dream about. Taylor Shaw's subtle guitar play demands loud volume when listening too, adding colorful layers to these simple but soaring songs. There's a lot going in the back round and headphone investigation will not give you a headache, but instead leave a crooked smile on your face.
Production credit goes to Mike McCarthy (Spoon, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead). McCarthy's experienced hand brings a down-home Earthy feel to these Southern delights, showcasing expansive fuzz to the rockers, but also letting the ears take a breath with songs like "Aretha's Gold". This epic track draws you in with its nearly seven minute tale of youthful indiscretion and a classic soul mix tape. Lovinggood's voice crackles along to Shaw's sweet and sloppy lead. The album's more somber moment comes at the half way mark. "Sour Milk" is a sparse and haunting open complaint letter to the mistakes of previous generations.
Wild Sweet Orange has a busy year ahead of them. A summer tour will find them playing Lollapalooza, and July 29th will see the release of We Have Cause To Be Uneasy via CanvasBack Music.
You can catch Wild Sweet Orange on the BMI Stage at Lollapalooza.
High Point
"Aretha's Gold" displays the band's obvious passion for playing together.
Low Point
"Night Terrors" trudges along undeserving to be amongst the other tracks.
Posted by Joe Roth on Jul 08, 2008 @ 8:08 am