The Sadies
New Seasons
Yep Roc

Our rating:

Your rating (click a Rabbit to vote):

Canada's the Sadies have always plied the weirder corners of (North) Americana, from Gothic country to surf music. Lately, however, they're on some kind of a groove, mining '70s Byrds for inspiration, with the results an impressive blend of mild psychedelic music and bluegrass with its roots in a different era. Make no mistake, though: New Seasons (perfectly produced by Jayhawks leader Gary Louris) is a living, breathing thing, driven by some incredible guitar work more classic than a lot of so-called classic rock. It's the quality of songs that make the disc so damned cool -- retro smooth but still rough-and-ready tracks such as "What's Left Behind," "Anna Leigh" and "Yours to Discover," the last of which features the telling line "I'm trying to get away from yesterday through today to tomorrow." New Seasons is the time-traveling vehicle taking the Sadies to all parts behind and beyond, with room in the passenger seat for one more.

-- Joshua Klein