[.ca] Coast Is Never Clear

From Amazon.com:
On The Coast Is Never Clear, the difficult third-album syndrome only affected San Franciscan pop dreamers Beulah in the studio, where the band came to blows over, say, the importance of a diminished seventh on a trumpet solo. From such a roughneck recording environment, however, comes perfection on their third album, where expansive, multi-instrumental, orchestral pop is underpinned by the sweetest tunes. This album could be precious--and in lesser hands it surely would be--but at the core of Beulah's ambitious vision a pure pop heart beats. Special mention must be made of "Silver Lining," a paean to songwriter Miles Kurosky's first love, punk rock. Introduced by a fanfare of horns, the track races along propelled by a fiery guitar riff and the beaten-up joy of being scarred by punk. A bittersweet, sumptuous, and utterly compulsive collection, all told. --Ben Clancy

drift off and be glad for what you have and what you are:
This is, quite simply put, the best album ever. Period. Beula is one great band, and if I could write and play musci as good as these guys, I would exploit myself to the fullest extent, because I would be awesome, and people would know it too. This is a jazzy smooth, fun, laid back, get happy to kind of album that you can listen to for hours and not get tired of. My favorites have to be "A Good Man Is Easy To Kill" and "Popular Mechanics For Lovers". The whole CD is virtually flawless. Beula mixes great indie rock, with smooth jazz lines and quirky little musical artfullness like having trumpets and vibes in many of the songs. The best part is that they manage to do this in places where no other band could. The album flows very smoothly, songs just fit together like puzzle pieces. The bands wonderful song writing and off in the clouds lyrics/vocals just bring the whole thing together. The lyrics are depressing at times, but down to earth. The great part is that the wonderful and suprisingly happy music will just bring you out of it. What a great freaking cd. Amazingly great.

You lucky people:
You guys don't know how lucky you are to have a band like Beulah. We're stuck in Britain with navel gazers like Coldplay and Travis, and you've go great pop bands like this This album has totally blown me away, and the only downside is that I've just found out about it. It would be depresing if the music wasn't so brilliant. Count your blessings

Very good:
I have no other albums by this band. They seem quite unoriginal -- they mostly sound like late Pavement, except when they sound like Stereolab. Still, this is really fine unoriginal music; good production, quality songs, neat atmosphere. I'll look for this band's other albums.

Someone call the doctor, I've got beulah fever:
ive had this album for over a year and i still love it just as much as the first time i heard it. all of its songs have a different sound, and yet theyre all good. i would heavily recommend this album and "when your hearstrings break", because all of beulah's best songs are on these two albums. my friend got me into them and supposedly theyre breaking up after a free concert in new york in august, so buy this now, find out you love it, and for anyone who is able to, make your way to new york and see this very unique band play its final gig.

A Great Album By A Criminally Underrated Band:
It's difficult to understand the relative anonymity of this incredible band. Their sound is adventurous, but unfailingly full and melodic; their lyrics are remarkably literate and vivid. Take the song "Gene Autry." First off, when was the last time you heard a lyric as descriptive and provocative as "and when the city spreads out just like a cut vein...?" The image has a dual application: the prettiness and believablity of the metaphor, and the straight reference to suicide. That's fine, artful writing - no small feat in the context of a rock song. Match it up with the sunny tune, punctuated with cheerful horns and holiday bells and chimes, and you've got a thoroughly ironic and moving picture of California life. What a great, great song. What a great, great album. Fans of Wilco should definitely apply.

	Custom Search