Brightback Morning Light - Brightback Morning Light

Rating

single starsingle starsingle starsingle starhalf star

RIYL

Vetiver
Nick Drake
Espers
Ghost
Devendra Banhart

Tracklist

1. Everybody Daylight
2. Friend of Time
3. Fry Bread
4. Star Blanket River Child
5. All We Have Broken Shines
6. A River Could Be Loved
7. Amber Canyon Magik
8. Black Feather Wishes Rise
9. Come Another Rain Down
10. We Share Our Blanket With the Owl

Users Rating

Create an account or log in to rate this album

Your Rating

Create an account or log in to rate this album

No album has ever left me as speechless as Brightblack Morning Light’s new self-titled album. Not only because it’s so fantastic that it leaves me in awe, but because I am at a loss for words on how to describe, and review, this album. On their last release, Ala.Cali.Tucky released under the name Brightblack, it was a very straight-forward, slow, alt-country/folk album that leaned very heavily toward the languid, drunken country songs from way back when. This time around, BML take a different direction with their music. It’s still slow to the bone, but it’s hard to accurately pinpoint their sound.

As stated, this album is slow. After all, the founders and long-time best friends Nathan Shineywater and Rachael Hughes, are both advocates for marijuana usage and legalization. While I hate to stereotype, this album is the perfect soundtrack to a day or evening spent smoking weed with your friends. It’s the blues-y, folk stuff your friends jam out to when you’re out camping in the woods or sitting around a campfire. Shuffling percussions, slide guitar, slinky bass lines, seductive guitars and hushed, sultry vocals mix and churn slowly to mesmerize you and bring a smile to your face. It is absolutely euphoric music, with not a single low moment throughout the album and it radiates a warm, fuzzy feeling from start to finish. Everything on this feels very home-made, like a project done by friends over a long period of time, perfectly honed to a masterful state. The album feels as if it has been in the workings for years. It all comes together and feels very free and natural, and not like they sat down and wrote each song and called it a day. Every song is impeccable in its instrumentation, and each song leads into the next, but the transitions are a bit too obvious and the album could have worked just as well if each song had a definitive end.

From start to finish, this album is pure joy to listen to while doing anything. It’s so slow, the vocals are so soft and hushed, it’s so groovy and involving, and it has set itself apart from all the other country/folk artists out there. This is hippy, stoner music, but it’s not obnoxious about it and is broad enough that most should enjoy it to some extent.

--Eirikur Hallsson

Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:55PM

Comments

awake_and_avenge
12/13/2006
07:57AM
Age: 29
Location
Tucson, AZ
I really dig this album, though not quite as much as you it would seem. Good review and spot-on RIYL's. Have you heard Ghost's new one yet?
chas
12/13/2006
01:33PM
Location
memphis
im glad other people are catching on to this band. when this cd came out in june, i spent the rest of my summer chilaxing in nature listening to these tunes. your right when you said its hard not to stereotype this music, it's pure stoner chillout music.

jared
12/16/2006
10:07AM
Age: 30
Location
Minneapolis, MN
This disc was just revealed as our #28 pick of 2006.

Blog | Twitter | Flickr

Jayme Barkdoll
12/17/2006
07:39PM
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
i would probably say this is one of the most overrated albums of the year... i enjoy this type of music and still can't understand why everyone loves it... great review though
LiquidHeaven
12/21/2006
10:43AM
Location
SL, UT
^Read the review on allmusic, probably exactly what you feel.

Trollin' with my homies.