Alberta Cross - Songs Of Patience (2012)

Artist: Alberta Cross
Album: Songs Of Patience
Bitrate: 270kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Ark Recordings
Genre: Rock
Size: 111.15 megs
PlayTime: 0h 54min 55sec total
Rip Date: 2012-08-31
Store Date: 2012-08-31

Track List:
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01. Magnolia 5:19
02. Crate Of Gold 3:03
03. Lay Down 4:31
04. Come On Maker 4:12
05. Wasteland 4:01
06. Ophelia On My Mind 3:48
07. I Believe In Everything 4:05
08. Money For The Weekend (Pocket 3:22
Full Of Shame)
09. Life Without Warning 5:23
10. Bonfires 5:17
11. Rambling Home 6:19
12. Wait 5:35

Release Notes:
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Taking a page from deceptively simple 70s rock artists like Television and
Talking Heads, as well as lavishly produced British pioneers like the Rolling
Stones, Brooklyn s Alberta Cross announces itself with force on its newest LP,
Songs of Patience. Although the album is relatively brief, its consistent
quality and knack for intrigue and sentiment grants it a lot of staying power.
Few bands make such a grand impression this easily.

Formed several years ago by two Englishmen, Petter Ericson Stakee
(vocals/guitar) and Terry Wolfers (vocals/bass), Alberta Cross sort of mixes
British elegance with Southern rock energy. Their debut full-length, Broken Side
of Time, came out in 2009, and they ve since expanded the official line-up to a
quintet that includes Sam Kearney, Austin Beede and Alec Higgins. Finally, their
influences include the Band, Neil Young and the Raconteurs. As the title
implies, Songs of Patience is all about allowing time to take its toll; the past
is gone, the present is palpable, and the future holds untold possibilities.

Magnolia starts things off with invigorating percussion, pleasant harmonies,
and vocal timbres that express both rebellion and peace. The closing chorus is
especially likeable. Crate of Gold , on the other hand, is a much more raucous
track, as the guitars are more distorted and the vocals are slightly more
distant (as if they re being filtered through a megaphone). Still, it s quite
engaging. One of the best tracks on Songs of Patience is Lay Down . A subtle
somberness permeates through the chord progressions, and the restrained usage of
piano is a nice touch. Really, the track has a lot in common with some of Tom
Petty s more impassioned pieces.

The psychedelic strings and guitar work of Come on Maker help it stand out, as
does the sheer emotional gravity of Ophelia on My Mind . A ballad at heart, the
song is made exceptional due to the way its orchestration complements its
sorrowful melody, and its implied connection to Hamlet (and thus, broken hearts
and suicide) makes it even more powerful. It s probably the best track on the
record. Similarly, I Believe in Everything is easily the catchiest track (its
production is fantastic, too), and Life Without Warning would be perfect to
close out a dramatic television show aimed at teenagers. The album concludes
with Bonfires , which is the most sparse and organic track here. Organized
around acoustic guitar, piano and vocals, it conveys bittersweet longing and
closure with ease; in fact, it feels very much like a lost track from the Dear
Hunter s most recent masterpiece, The Color Spectrum, albeit with an inferior
singer.

Songs of Patience is a very good record. Although some may wish for more
diversity within the set (these songs contain a lot of the same techniques and
styles), as well as more layers to flesh out the core songwriting, there s still
plenty to like. The group managers to capture the excitement of live performance
within the well-produced tracks, which makes the album feel simultaneously raw
and refined, and it s clear that some serious issues and feelings pervade the
bluesy rock music. It ll be interesting to hear where Alberta Cross goes from
here.

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