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Title: not what it could have been
Review: I hate to say it, but the new band led by Sid Griffin (80s country rock pioneers the Long Ryders, the Coal Porters) just isn't that good. They start off promisingly with the dreamy opening track, but the slow, ethereal sounds get old fast, especially since the melodies aren't strong enough to hold much interest. Griffin was never the world's greatest tunesmith anyway, and here his slight songs get lost in a vaguely psychedelic C&W haze, like the Byrds on Quaaludes. I wanted to like this, but in truth it bores me to tears. The pseudo-spiritual lyrics don't help. The pedal steel work is very nice, however.
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