I gotta tell ya, I like the twang. I love twangy voices and twangy guitars. The Dreadful Yawns deliver in this respect. They play the kind of music you would expect to hear at the local fair. A mix of psychedelic/space rock, alt-country and a big dose of Americana. This isn't to say that the band isn't worthy of things greater than playing fairs. This self-titled release is proof that the Dreadful Yawns are on to something great here. The band's influence of the late Nick Drake and the Byrds are evident on this album.
With songs like "Get Yourself Back Home" and "Darkness is Gone" the band quickens the pace with plenty of twangy acoustic to keep hearts happy and feet tapping to the beat.
"Back in The Ground" is a cheerful song about death that is oddly uplifting, with lyrics like "Our memory it's everywhere / And children live on".
While there are a good selection of upbeat songs, there are also a large choice of slow numbers. The album kicks off with one of the slowest of all, "You Sold the Farm" an odd choice, I thought, to start things off.
The soft vocals of Ben Gmetro in "It's A Charmed Life" seems to fit the mellow feel of the song about having it all "lead up to this".
The lyrics of "Waking up to you" are beautifully sad and depressing, and also happens to be my favorite of all the songs on the album. It's a very real song with emotions that most people in a relationship probably go through at least once, or ten times. "Left so many times but they were always in my mind / though each time I tell myself I'll see it though".
There's a beautiful six minute song titled "Get Straight" with one single line repeated throughout the song, "I can't wait 'till you get straight".
Originally formed in 1999 in Cleveland, Ohio, the band released their debut album, Early, in 2003.
Complete track listing:
You Sold the Farm
Get Yourself Back Home
Darkness is Gone
It's A Charmed Life
Back in the Ground
Part of Your Past
Waking Up to You
Get Straight
Better Things To Do
There's No Place Like Home
Drinking Song
Lullaby
The People and the Sky
No Destination
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You can read Jones Violet's stuff at Stolen Pony.
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