Nothing Is Wrong [CD]

Dawes first album "North Hills" received a five star review in Uncut and was a very nice slice of effortless Californian rock which drew heavily on the tradition of the old Laurel Canyon music culture, owing huge debts to The Eagles, Gram Parsons and Neil Young. The outcome of this suggested a level of fine songwriting that almost guaranteed greater things to come. On their second album they produce a very assured and confident follow up which sees the music of Jackson Browne providing the source inspiration. Some indeed will feel that they might have slipped on "The Pretender" or "Late for the Sky" by accident. On the first listen to "Nothing is wrong" songs such as "So Well" and "Fire away' (where JB provides backing vocals) ooze the laid back piano led approach and world weary vocals that are a Browne trademark. Yet despite this influence this is a very good album and fans of West coast music will be smitten. The rocky opener "Time spent in Los Angeles" is a glorious pop song which shows that the voice of lead singer Taylor Goldsmith improves with age. "If you wanted someone" alternatively points to an old style Crazy Horse riff but again develops into a fine rock song with the band providing excellent Eagles style harmonies, while the six minute plus alt country ballad "My way back home" will soundtrack long journeys across endless American mid west freeways. Other highlights include the wonderful narrative storytelling on the closing ballad "A little bit of everything". Granted "Moon in the water" is a bit sappy and the sentimental lyrics do grate and the "The Way you laugh" driving rhythm bears a strong passing resemblance to Fleetwood Mac's "Clinton" signature tune "Don't stop". But let's not put you off since there is enough in this album to confirm the title that "Nothing is wrong' and in fact the majority of songs are very much right.

Of late Dawes has been backing the old Band stalwart Robbie Robertson someone who knows a set of accomplished musicians when he sees them and they have clearly benefitted from this experience in terms of a much more mature sophomore album. They are band that improves with every outing and should you wish to sample before you buy their recent Daytrotter session contains a range of songs from this album which are ready for you to test and download for free. Please do make the effort to check them out.

Can't believe some of the negative stuff posted on this album. It is absolutely fantastic! Yes, the influences are there to be quite clearly heard, most notably the great Jackson Browne! It seems that most music these days is derivitive, and that its ok to replicate the blues or soul music from the past. Nobody has really got to grips with this 70's California sound since it's heyday, and this takes you right back into that era, but with a fresh new feel. You can't produce music that simply carries the Jackson Browne sound, without being able to produce fantastic lyrics, or it would fall very flat. Dawes have produced 11 lyrically beautiful songs that each tell their story perfectly over a canvas of great musicianship, watertight harmonies, and gorgeous tunes. The guitar solo sound used in many of these tracks, most notably A Little Bit Of Everything, is taken straight from the early Jackson Browne albums, which is great, because no one seems to play in the style or use this sound anymore! Time Spent In Los Angeles is a fantastic opening pop-rock track perfect for the Summer and sets the 70s California feel of the album to follow, right through to the final track A Little Bit Of Everything - this song would not sound out of place in a Warren Zevon set, it is a challenging song lyrically which is painted in a gritty truthful pathos and a hint of hope.

If you like Jackson Browne, you'll love this album, if you like the Eagles, you'll love this album, if you like great songs beautifully performed and produced, then you will certainly love this album.

Yes the sound of dawes may not be anything new to our ears but they draw from all of their influences and wear those influences on their plaid shirt sleeves . The difference between this band and many of the other bands currently trying to ply their trade in blues/alt country tinged rock genre is the quality of the song writing and the ability to let the music swagger on its own in a similar ilk to The Band. It's very difficult to sound this loose and groove on the beat every time and make it sound this good and easy too. Ignore the 1 star review he obviously never gave it a chance ....each to their own though i suppose Dawes are not The Eagles (thank god!) Check out some of the clips on you tube and i guarantee you will like what you see.