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Their sound is timeworn and instantly familiar: the “set me free” chorus of ‘Streetwalker’ is pure Springsteen, while the honky-tonk of ‘Trashcan’ is classic Stones, made more remarkable by the sandpaper snarl of their frontman.
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Despite passing echoes of Spoon and Violent Femmes, Delta Spirit's rough barroom pop is its own creature, with jangly pianos, rattling drums, and scruffy acoustic guitars making a thrilling ruckus.
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The ex-Noise Ratchet founders shift to more rootsy territory with their new band, yielding impressive results.
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The piano-driven 'Trashcan,' bright and jovial 'House Built for Two,' and wobbly waltz of the title track accent Ode to Sunshine's 11 tunes, making it a pleasing debut from a band that should have an interesting future.
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What Ode to Sunshine really boils down to is excellent songwriting. And it only helps that the album’s pacing is fantastic and hardly ever drags.
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Despite Delta Spirit’s anarchic (i.e., creatively opportunistic) sampling of everything from cold war folk to the Cold War Kids, when the band members hit their stride--as on the rumbling, locomotive grooves of piano-stung epic Americana on 'Trashcan'--Sunshine becomes nothing less than an ode to musical joy.
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Ode To Sunshine is brimming with gritty, staggering soul that floods the gap between the Stones' R&B-inflected early oeuvre and Cold War Kids' world-weary keening.
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UncutLoose, raw, a bit funky, it illustrates the band's knack for creating new-but-classic-sounding songs and getting them down on disc with a sizzling live feel. [Aopr 2009, p.87]
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Q MagazineRootsy San Diego five-piece Delta Spirit's debut is a thought provoking surprise. [Apr 2009, p.102]
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FilterSome songs are happy songs; some are sad, but the pure joy of melody shines through in every one. [Summer 2008, p.92]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 13 out of 14
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Mixed: 0 out of 14
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Negative: 1 out of 14
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Jan 30, 2011
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BrendanFeb 3, 2010Great album, translates well to live sets - can't wait to hear the follow up.
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WaldoDec 24, 2009