Ty Listens to "The Villager's Companion"

Califone, a band I very recently was introduced to, released a new record about a week ago. My buddy Kirk was the first to tell me about Califone. He told me about a special show they were doing in Saint Louis and asked if I wanted to go. I told him I didn't know who they were. He said, give them a listen and let him know soon, as there were limited tickets. I heard one song, "Funeral Singers", and I was all in. Kirk bought the tickets, we went to the show, it was awesome and Califone earned a fan for life. I have been listening to a bunch of their music, and other projects, a ton lately, and I really, really like their music. So, when Kirk let me know over a month ago that a new record was coming out, I was stoked.

I have, to this point, listened to "The Villager's Companion" all the way through twice, and kind of pick and choose songs from the record to listen to while driving. I enjoy this record a lot. The first track, "every amnesia movie", was also the first single. I like this song a ton. It is classic Califone. The guitar is very cool and folksy, the lyrics paint an excellent picture and it was the best way to kick the album off. That song is followed by "burn the sheets. bleach the books" is similar in tone. These two tracks are the perfect way to start a new record for a relative new fan such as myself. The band then takes a bit of a detour from their classic sound with the next couple songs. "a blood red corduroy 3 piece suit" is an epic. The song is nearly seven minutes long. It starts slowly, has a nice middle section I really like, then adds on a somber note, of which I have come to adore with this band. "jaco pastorious" is a bit more upbeat with electric instruments. It is also a very well written tune. That is what sets Califone apart from other bands for me right now, they can write a damn good song. "gas station roller doggs" is bluesy and accompanied by a wonderful slide guitar. This is their most Bob Dylan-like song on the record in my opinion. "antenna mountain death blanket" is spacey, in a good way. The band does some cool stuff with some different instruments here. It is also a total change of pace from what they usually do, and it works for me. "the bullet b4 the sound" gets you back in the classic Califone mood. The song sounds like something that would have been on some of their earliest records. "Family Swan" is sad and pretty and kind of blends the new stuff they're doing with the older stuff. It is a great mesh of their styles and this one comes in over seven minutes, but it never feels too long. The final track on the record, "Crazy as a Loon", is my favorite. It has everything I like in the folk/blues music Califone makes. From the slide guitar, to the story being told, to the backing band doing their thing, this song is an absolute homerun for me. I love everything about it. I find myself listening to this one more than any other track from the album. It's awesome. So is the whole album for that matter. I like that we get a blend of genres from the band in nine songs clocking in at 40 minutes. It's a ride I really enjoy taking with the music I listen to.

"The Villager's Companion" is a very good album. This will only further my fandom for Califone. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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