So after all these years, and within seconds of hearing the opening song from 'The Tarnished Gold', and it really does feel like Beachwood Sparks have never been away. If they were out of fashion first time around, eleven years later, things look very different. You only need to look around and see the company they keep(Neal Casal, Ariel Pink and Jonathan Wilson, among others) to know that this is as good a time as any to be back. Whilst 'The Tarnished Gold' is probably less psychedelic than their previous two albums, it still has its heart in the country/folk California pop of the 60's and 70's. Lots of acoustic guitars and harmony vocals, perfect for those lazy summer days. It's a very strong album and possibly their best yet. My favourite tunes at the moment are 'Forget The Song', 'Water From The Well', 'Talk About Lonesome' and 'Earl Jean'. Welcome back Beachwood Sparks, just don't leave it so long next time, and to quote 'Earl Jean', "i love a happy ending".