BEACHWOOD SPARKS
''DESERT SKIES''
NOVEMBER 26 2013
56:48
1 Desert Skies 04:41
2 Make It Together 04:17
3 Time 04:44
4 Watery Moonlight 03:23
5 This Is What It Feels Like 04:39
6 Sweet Julie Ann 06:08
7 Canyon Ride 05:15
8 Midsummer Daydream 07:33
9 Charm 04:23
10 Desert Skies (C.O.2 Version) 04:22
11 Make It Together (Warm Summer 04:23
12 Time (Original Version) 02:52
REVIEW/AMG
By Matt Collar
**** Of *****
Prior to the release of Beachwood Sparks' 2000 self-titled Sub Pop debut album, the California neo-hippie country-rock outfit had already produced an album's worth of material. Recorded in true DIY style in a small converted one-car garage known as the Space Shed, this would-be debut, titled here as Desert Skies, featured the band's earlier six member line-up. Centered around guitarist/vocalist Chris Gunst, bassist/vocalist Brent Rademaker, and keyboardist/lap steel player Dave Scher, this version of Beachwood Sparks also included guitarist/vocalist Josh Schwartz, keyboardist/lap steel player Dave Scher, drummer Tom Sanford, and percussionist Pete Kinne. Having formed in 1997, the six-piece Beachwood Sparks had grown from a fledgling noise-rock combo into a '60s and '70s country-rock inspired outfit whose combined love of such '80s Paisley Underground bands as the Rain Parade and the Dream Syndicate, as well as the innovative country-rock style of Gram Parsons and the Eagles, helped them build a loyal following in the Los Angeles-area during the late '90s. Spurred by an offer to record a single for Bomp!, Beachwood Sparks embarked on these recordings with an eye to self-releasing the album. Ultimately, only "Desert Skies," and "Make it Together," ended up as a Bomp! single with the rest of the tracks abandoned as the band lost interest, changed members and evolved into the four-piece that recorded 2000's Beachwood Sparks, 2001's Once We Were Trees, 2002's Make the Cowboy Robots Cry and the band's 2012 reunion album The Tarnished Gold. While the band always evinced a love of groovy, twangy '70s country rock, here they strike balance between their earlier indie-rock influences and bourgeoning country explorations. Even a song like the opening title-track cut, which also opens the band's Sub Pop debut, reveals a warmer, more fluid interpretation here that has more in common with bands like Big Star and Teenage Fanclub. Elsewhere, the epic "Sweet Julie Ann," with its layered guitar atmospherics a'la the Jesus and Mary Chain, is a long lost Beachwood Sparks classic and its a wonder the band never revisited it on later records. In some ways, as evidenced by mellow vibe of 2012's The Tarnished Gold, the band was on a circular journey back to this commingling of dream pop and country. It's a revelation to hear just how fertile the band's songwriting and overall sound was during these early days.
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
By Jason Ankeny
Los Angeles-based cosmic country-pop combo Beachwood Sparks were formed in mid-1998 by onetime Strictly Ballroom singer/guitarist Chris Gunst, slide guitarist/keyboardist Dave Scher, ex-Further bassist Brent Rademaker, and Lilys drummer Aaron Sperske. Inspired by the pioneering country-rock efforts of West Coast legends like the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Buffalo Springfield, the group issued acclaimed singles for Bomp! ("Desert Skies") and Sub Pop ("Midsummer Daydream") prior to the spring 2000 release of their superb self-titled debut LP. Their polished sophomore effort, Once We Were Trees, followed in fall 2001. A year later, the band released the EP Make the Cowboy Robots Cry. Around the same time, Beachwood Sparks went on unofficial hiatus, during which time the members pursued various side projects including Rademaker's band the Tyde, which also included Scher and Gunst at times, Scher's All Night Radio, and others. In 2012, Beachwood Sparks reunited for the full-length effort The Tarnished Gold. In 2013, the band's previously unreleased debut album, Desert Skies, from which their initial Bomp! singles were culled, received an official pressing on Alive Naturalsound Records.
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''DESERT SKIES''
NOVEMBER 26 2013
56:48
1 Desert Skies 04:41
2 Make It Together 04:17
3 Time 04:44
4 Watery Moonlight 03:23
5 This Is What It Feels Like 04:39
6 Sweet Julie Ann 06:08
7 Canyon Ride 05:15
8 Midsummer Daydream 07:33
9 Charm 04:23
10 Desert Skies (C.O.2 Version) 04:22
11 Make It Together (Warm Summer 04:23
12 Time (Original Version) 02:52
REVIEW/AMG
By Matt Collar
**** Of *****
Prior to the release of Beachwood Sparks' 2000 self-titled Sub Pop debut album, the California neo-hippie country-rock outfit had already produced an album's worth of material. Recorded in true DIY style in a small converted one-car garage known as the Space Shed, this would-be debut, titled here as Desert Skies, featured the band's earlier six member line-up. Centered around guitarist/vocalist Chris Gunst, bassist/vocalist Brent Rademaker, and keyboardist/lap steel player Dave Scher, this version of Beachwood Sparks also included guitarist/vocalist Josh Schwartz, keyboardist/lap steel player Dave Scher, drummer Tom Sanford, and percussionist Pete Kinne. Having formed in 1997, the six-piece Beachwood Sparks had grown from a fledgling noise-rock combo into a '60s and '70s country-rock inspired outfit whose combined love of such '80s Paisley Underground bands as the Rain Parade and the Dream Syndicate, as well as the innovative country-rock style of Gram Parsons and the Eagles, helped them build a loyal following in the Los Angeles-area during the late '90s. Spurred by an offer to record a single for Bomp!, Beachwood Sparks embarked on these recordings with an eye to self-releasing the album. Ultimately, only "Desert Skies," and "Make it Together," ended up as a Bomp! single with the rest of the tracks abandoned as the band lost interest, changed members and evolved into the four-piece that recorded 2000's Beachwood Sparks, 2001's Once We Were Trees, 2002's Make the Cowboy Robots Cry and the band's 2012 reunion album The Tarnished Gold. While the band always evinced a love of groovy, twangy '70s country rock, here they strike balance between their earlier indie-rock influences and bourgeoning country explorations. Even a song like the opening title-track cut, which also opens the band's Sub Pop debut, reveals a warmer, more fluid interpretation here that has more in common with bands like Big Star and Teenage Fanclub. Elsewhere, the epic "Sweet Julie Ann," with its layered guitar atmospherics a'la the Jesus and Mary Chain, is a long lost Beachwood Sparks classic and its a wonder the band never revisited it on later records. In some ways, as evidenced by mellow vibe of 2012's The Tarnished Gold, the band was on a circular journey back to this commingling of dream pop and country. It's a revelation to hear just how fertile the band's songwriting and overall sound was during these early days.
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
By Jason Ankeny
Los Angeles-based cosmic country-pop combo Beachwood Sparks were formed in mid-1998 by onetime Strictly Ballroom singer/guitarist Chris Gunst, slide guitarist/keyboardist Dave Scher, ex-Further bassist Brent Rademaker, and Lilys drummer Aaron Sperske. Inspired by the pioneering country-rock efforts of West Coast legends like the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Buffalo Springfield, the group issued acclaimed singles for Bomp! ("Desert Skies") and Sub Pop ("Midsummer Daydream") prior to the spring 2000 release of their superb self-titled debut LP. Their polished sophomore effort, Once We Were Trees, followed in fall 2001. A year later, the band released the EP Make the Cowboy Robots Cry. Around the same time, Beachwood Sparks went on unofficial hiatus, during which time the members pursued various side projects including Rademaker's band the Tyde, which also included Scher and Gunst at times, Scher's All Night Radio, and others. In 2012, Beachwood Sparks reunited for the full-length effort The Tarnished Gold. In 2013, the band's previously unreleased debut album, Desert Skies, from which their initial Bomp! singles were culled, received an official pressing on Alive Naturalsound Records.
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