About Stefan Halley
Location: Malmo, Sweden
Occupation: Editor-in-Chief
Bio: Stefan has been writing reviews for seven years and started Pop Syndicate out of need to voice his mis-guided opinion.
Posts: 812
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Alt-country rocks with The New Frontiers.
If there is one genre of music I usually can’t stand it is country. Too much is bad pop music with a lame twang. I know I shouldn’t cast an entire genre of music into one generic sack but my dislike is strong, I can’t help it. On the other hand, I love alt. country, bluegrass and folk music. Go figure. The New Frontiers is a great new band out of Dallas, TX that brings the best of alt-country to life with an enchanting blend of Americana rock and country music.
The Texas quartet churns out some of the best alt-country music to hit the airwaves in quite awhile. They’ve been compared to Wilco but any alt-country band released these days is compared to Wilco as if they are the high water mark. The New Frontiers produce some great music. “Black Lungs” is a solid rocking tune that shows the bands sensitive side that effectively displays Jacob Chaney’s amazing guitar work. After the lead song, Mending settles in and produces one great song after another. “TheDay You Fell Apart” follows up “Black Lungs” with raw emotion and passion.
The highlight of the album is easily “Mirrors”. Spiritual and powerfully, “Mirrors” is a multi-layered harmony that shows the breadth and scope of the band. Lead singer Nathan Pettijohn leads the band out of the mundane and into a higher plan. He isn’t afraid to subtle and quite at one moment and raucous the next.
The New Frontiers aren’t afraid to rock out one track and give us relaxing, easy grooving tracks the next. Mending is an easy listen with solid tracks that blend effortlessly from one track to the next. The New Frontiers aren’t afraid to take what’s been done before with bands like Wilco and Gin Blossoms and update them for today’s audience. Blending a familiar sound with their own slightly skewed views, The New Frontiers have created one of the best albums of 2008.
With each listen, The New Frontiers offer lots of great music. Each track leads to the next and creates a seamless creation. Alt-country has been driven into the ground over the years but The New Frontiers have helped lift the genre up and created a great CD that could be one of the best of the year.
