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I asked my 10th grade English teacher once for advice on writing, and she replied with the "write about what you know" cliché. Ah, and success it was; I walked away a different person with this newfound knowledge and planned on applying it to future written efforts. Later the other night, after immensely enjoying Two Cow Garage's Speaking in Cursive, I thought to myself: "Come on, Mike, you're punx; why listen to anyone?" So here I am writing about a subgenre of punk I have very little knowledge about and the chances of making an ass of myself are pretty high. As long as I have an opinion, it should make me somewhat qualified...I think.

Two Cow Garage plays, what I consider, whiskey-soaked punk and alternative country, and have been compared by others to Lucero and the Drive by Truckers. With Speaking in Cursive, the band shows dynamics ranging from loud, dirty overdrive to soft, palm-muted acoustic guitars and use it as a backdrop to raspy, sorrow-filled vocals.

As the bass line and pedal tone of the guitar on "Your Humble Narrator" ascends its way over steady rimshots, Micah Schnabel recalls "waking up to cassette tapes and ashtrays filled up from the night before," showing the use of country music's storytelling calling card. The quiet track builds with louder piano-accentuated chords and eventually harder snare hits until Schnabel's voice reaches a painfully grinding sound. Track 3, "Folksinger's Heart" is instrumentally one of the best tracks on the album; after a short organ solo, a bluesy, southern-tinged guitar lead bends its way into an acoustic re-visitation to the chorus. However, I'm a little hesitant to say that it's the "best" since the harmonicas, organs and keyboards layer almost all of their songs perfectly. "Glass City," whose vocals are provided by the band's other vocalist (who sounds a lot like a bassier Chuck Ragan), is more on the punkier side with heavy tom hits leading to a palm-muted post-chorus. Damn is "being afraid of living is just the same as dying" a cute line!

Unfortunately, after a long grouping of slower, somber songs, I almost wanted the closer to end with a rockin' bang. Instead, in the same fashion as the first song, "Swallowed by the Sea" is another slow song, but even shorter. With the exception of that, and the fact that "Funeral Drag" and "Brass Ring" sound very similar, I can't find much wrong with this record at all. It's a seemingly underrated record of heartbreak that I will, without hesitation, throw on when I am feeling down.



People who liked this also liked:
Against Me! - As The Eternal CowboyThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!Lucero - That Much Further WestDrag the River - You Can't Live This WayNOFX - The DeclineBen Nichols - The Last Pale Light in the WestDillinger Four - C I V I L W A RMorrissey - Years of RefusalAlkaline Trio - GoddamnitLucero - Rebels, Rogues, & Sworn Brothers



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    Posted by suburbanhome on 2008-11-14 17:38:00
    My Score:

    thanks everyone for the positive comments, the great review, and for all of you that took the time to see them at the Fest. I feel really lucky to be able to work with these guys. And those of you who have yet to see them live, oh man, they will rock your socks off.

    I might add that this newest album is less country and more rock than anything they have ever done. It is just a great album.

    Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2008-11-14 00:37:29

    slobberbone? i hardly knew her

    Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2008-11-14 00:37:14

    lol slobberbone

    Posted by mikexdude on 2008-11-13 20:39:27

    Trend? Ha.

    Posted by wallrock on 2008-11-13 14:26:57
    My Score:

    I wouldn't call it a "recent" trend (alt country was the supposed New Thing in the 90's) but I'm happy that Suburban Home adopted Two Cow Garage. I've been a fan of theirs since seeing them open for Slobberbone a few years back. Their last album was one of my favorites of 2007 and I was excited for this to come out. I wasn't sold on the download tracks from SH and after the first spin I thought "good but not great." It turns out I needed to have a few drinks and listen to it to properly get into it, and now this is album is one of my favorites for 2008.

    Posted by xote on 2008-11-13 14:12:59

    Whats with this sudden trend of alt-country "punk" bands. Is it cool for indie kids to like country now?

    I don't mind it, it's not my thing but whatever... I just find it odd allthese bands are comming out and getting popular now. Oh trends.

    Posted by mikexdude on 2008-11-13 10:50:09
    My Score:

    Thank you for all the compliments, guys, it means a lot!

    But yeah, record rules.

    Posted by almostpunkenough on 2008-11-13 04:11:04

    great review.

    not my cup of tea, but i found parts of a few different songs really enjoyable.

    Posted by BarleyPat on 2008-11-12 08:57:29
    My Score:

    I've been listening to the stream of this, great album. I need to pick it up when I have some cash.

    Posted by oskorei on 2008-11-11 23:54:13
    My Score:

    another good Suburban Home release. Stellar roster they have now. good review and thank you for attempting to give a description of what the band sounds like, instead of just ex members of ... info.

    Posted by blanktapesemptybottles on 2008-11-11 22:58:02

    They were def one of the best sets at Fest, I can't wait to hear this all their other albums are great, but they are that much better live

    Posted by baseball on 2008-11-11 14:45:45

    I'll have to grab this off Emusic tonight. Also saw them at the Fest and they rocked pretty hard. Them followed by Drag The River was an excellent way to end out the night.

    Posted by ashtraymonument on 2008-11-11 13:01:22
    My Score:

    super awesome

    Posted by preston on 2008-11-11 12:29:13
    My Score:

    I dig this record, but it bothers me that the second singer tries to rip off Tom Waits. Check out "Who Are You This Time?" and "Downtown Train" if you don't believe me. Other than that though, I must say its awesome. Saw them at the Fest and I can now saw their recordings don't do them justice. They were one of the best acts I saw that weekend.

    Posted by mpc on 2008-11-11 12:17:59
    My Score:

    This is a very good album and a well-written review.

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2008-11-11 11:50:07

    Damn I just turned in a review for this yesterday. Looks like I'm too late. At least this review is really good.
    -Dante

    Posted by bryne on 2008-11-11 11:25:55
    My Score:

    Awesome record. Good review, Mikey.

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