From the music filled streets of Nashville come Red Shepherd, a group of four honest working musicians just looking to be the best at what they do and tap a few toes in the process. Formed in roughly 2003, the band has seen some line up changes in the way of bass players, but has continued to put out music even with the hiccup in their ‘Plan A’, and anticipate a third album to be released this spring.
Until that album drops, the group’s 2008 record, Blue Skies is their most current release, and fortunately one that has no trouble entertaining fans as they wait for the new music. The 13 tracks of Blue Skies brings good vibrations and hooky guitars to music akin to the styling of bands like Wilco, Nada Surf, and early Kings of Leon.
From the tinkling opening in ‘Bittersweet’ to the perfect twanginess of ‘Let Me Have It’ Blue Skies is a delightful blend of indie and a more southern sound. Title track ‘Blue Skies’ without a doubt is a song with the potential to blow up as a radio hit, with its easy flowing ‘driving with the windows down’ melody, combination of acoustic and electric guitars, and tempo boost midway. All the elements that made bands like Matchbox 20 and Everclear popular are present, with an added flair that is Red Shepherd’s own.
Songs like ‘Glow’ and ‘Made for Me’ showcase the bands penchant for fellow musician’s The Avett Brothers, as well quip-y, quirky lyrics like the latter’s “I’m after you like a bear after honey/I’m all wrapped up like an Egyptian mummy”. ‘Made for Me’ also gets points for diverging a little off the albums beaten path into a vocal pattern and guitar riff comparable to bands like Hockey Night and Polaris.
While by and large we’re fans of the record, we didn’t care much for opening track, ‘What is Wrong’, mostly because after listening through the album it comes off as a misrepresentation of Red Shepherd’s sound. The deep electric intro and methodic percussion blend into a display of relatively bland instrumentals, flat vocals, and an all around uninspiring song-which is vastly incongruent with the rest of the record. Comparing our front-man’s voice in this track to another, such as ‘For the Best’, is like night and day, relieving its listener from the earlier flub with a perfectly Matthew Caws-esque croon. Mention also has to be made of the perfect glimmering upbeat qualities found in the final song, ‘Grey’ simply telling us, “Don’t you worry, you’ll be okay, the sun will come out another day” through a mix of harmonies, ukulele, and guitar.
All in all Blue Skies is a record perfect for this time when Spring is beginning to peek around the corner, and a great way to get yourself excited for what is coming next from these Tennesseans.
Tags: Album Review, Upcoming Release
