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www.churchonthursday.com
Beachwood Sparks
Beachwood Sparks
Sup Pop
2000
"Peace Brother". "Howdy Parder".
"Yo". "Dude". "Gay Guys are not effiminate".
"Far Out".
"Whazzzaaaapp". The preceding have little to do with each other,
except that most can be used as a greeting. Beachwood Sparks' new CD on Sub
Pop has me all confused, just like I've made all of you so far. Bear with
me please--this CD may take some time to explain.
How many of you have Hippie parents? Do you remember that early 70's pop/country/rock phase? You probably remember your parents playing some Crosby Stills Nash & Young album. The music on the Beachwood Sparks disc is very reminiscent of the aforementioned period of rock 'n' roll. I like that early 70's period of rock the most because everything came together perfectly. All of the session musicians had honed their skills, the analog and tube equipment was diverse, the mixers, engineers and producers seemed to be able to coax a beautiful and warm sound from all of those boxes of electronics. All of the stuff I've listened to from that era has such a warm and bubbly vibe that I become an enchanted young boy again when I hear it.
I guess my point is that this Beachwood Sparks disc is also warm and bubbly. It has that early 70's rock/country thing going that makes me think of my beloved Crosby Stills Nash & Young Deja vu album. The vocals are fantastic, guitar work soothing, the lap steel narcotic at times, etc. I could go on and on about how good this music is but I won't. You all should buy this whether you like country or not. Now to the story of me receiving this assignment.
Felix "Pops" Thursday called me with an "extra-special" assignment. He let me know (vaguely) about the cover and inside artwork, and he told me--spastically--about the music. The gist of it is that "Pops" knew I'd love or hate the music, but he was sure I'd go off about the artwork and layout. He was correct in all. I love the music, as does my wife. I give a positive nod to Sub Pop for putting this out. And I am appalled at this album's artwork.
It appears to be an attempt to be some sort of retro, Hippie, back-to-nature, pot-smoking, vegetable-growing, shaggy-hair, Western-shirt-wearing, hip-hugging flared-corduroy-pant period concept album. I even think that these guys like all of that retro crap. What I don't care for is the use of a 1964/1967 Volkswagen Deluxe Sunroof Transporter. Yes, this is a beautiful red and white 21-window bus. I've owned a few of these buses as well as an assortment of otehr early air-cooled VWs. I currently own a '71 bus complete with factory sunroof and a '73 standard Beetle, both of which I do the majority of work on, if it all. I fear that Beachwood Sparks did this VW thing to appeal to Patchouli Core! You know, the nouveau Hippies that hold no Hippie ideals. The ones who look all dirty and nasty and then beg for change while holding their malnourished dog. Those goddamned Dirts!
These dirtballs usually attempt to drive a ratty old hunk of a '73 VW van cross-country in search of Slacker/Dirt/Patchouli/Grateful Dead Utopia. These nasty people have oft found their way to Mt. Shasta, CA. I hate Mt. Shasta! The new Mt. Shastans are mostly wannabe Hippies who are much too wealthy and were formerly from the Bay Area. They are extremely phony and pretentious. They also kind of embrace the Dirts. I do not.
The reason for this diatribe? These guys (Beachwood Sparks) are all dressed up in their retro Cowboy/Hippie get ups and there it is--goddamned Mt. Shasta in the background! These guys have no business driving a VW van, let alone putting a 21-window on their album. Nor would they walk through Yreka in their "Cowboy" clothes without getting slapped open-handed by one of Yreka's finest.
The van and Mt. Shasta set me off! Sorry.
All in all, I love this disc, I think many of you will too. I even think the Dirts that drive the most nasty, rotted hunk of a VW van would enjoy this music. My recommendation is to buy this album and just "mellow out". I want to see these guys! But I may smack a twirling Hippie!
--Garren
Hanon