The Sadies: Favourite Colours : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

If something smells Phishy on the new Sadies album, it's probably the tight and melodic jams that open and pepper it. There is of course other finery in this booty of loosely labeled alt-country: the late-Sixties-style hippie rock of "Translucent Sparrow" that the band flawlessly transforms into Tex-Mex with the help of a catchy, lazy trumpet; Kinks-ish tunes laced with acoustic guitars ("Why Be So Curious") and even cowboy theme music, which leaves the saloon door swinging on its hinges with lyrics like "The angels killed the devils/Hung them in the streets/And reveled in the blood lust and the fires of revenge" ("1000 Cities Falling"). Robyn Hitchcock guests and adds to the spooky romance with vocals and lyrics -- "Why would anybody live here?/Only you and your eyes" -- on the final track. Combining American groove rock with spicy Western flavor, the Sadies have created yet another eerie and epic piece of work.