I Was Only Kind Of Wrong About Wild Sweet Orange
My girlfriend thinks Wild Sweet Orange is lame. I excitedly played the Birmingham band for her expecting an enthusiastic response. I knew the band wasn’t going to become one of her all time favorites which is topped by Bright Eyes, but I thought it might make it into her current rotation which includes Dr. Dog, Arcade Fire, and recently a renewed fervor for the Faint.
My recommendation was quickly shot down with words like “boring,” “okay,” and the dreaded “meh.” A deft hit to my ego had occurred and it was now spinning out of control. I am a music enthusiast; I listen and write about music constantly. Shouldn’t I be able to pick out a group my girlfriend would dig? I was reeling and I quickly searched for an answer to explain my misstep.
When no answer came I realized the unthinkable - she was right, kind of.
The album is flawed - as most are. On We Have Cause To Be Uneasy Wild Sweet Orange’s major flaw is extension - not of their talent but in length. Only two songs clock in at under four minutes (An Atlas To Follow, Night Terrors) while three are over five minutes, and Aretha’s Gold is the longest at 6:49. The length of tracks allow for slow (not in tempo) sections that can serve to weaken the stronger points of record like the crackling anger in Preston Lovinggood’s voice as Tilt develops.
Even so, Wild Sweet Orange can still craft a song. That may seem counterintuitive, but all the parts of good songs are present and accounted for, just a bit too much of everything. That being said, I’ve listened to the record half a dozen times and still am going back for more, but I lack the same vigor in which I repeat Delta Spirit’s Ode to Sunshine with. Wild Sweet Orange’s We Have Cause To Be Uneasy takes time and commitment that at times can feel like a waste, but at other times can be quite good.
When I listen to House of Regret I am convinced of Wild Sweet Orange’s potential. As Lovinggood’s voice swings up and down in a similar vein to the best of Okkervil River’s Will Sheff and the band backs with solid, but not an overreaching sound the band is at it’s best.
Like I said, she was only kind of right.
Wild Sweet Orange - Ten Dead Dogs
We Have Cause To Be Uneasy is out July 29th through Canvasback Recordings.
Wild Sweet Orange Tour Dates:
June 22 @ 3pm - Looney Tunes Records Free In-Store - West Babylon, NY
(pre-order the record at the show and get an exclusive t-shirt)
June 25 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO (opening for Matisyahu)
July 26 - Workplay - Birmingham, AL (Record release show!)
July 31 - Ear X-tasy Free In-Store - Louisville, KY
Aug 1- Pike Room at the Crofoot - Pontiac, MI
Aug 3 @ 12:30pm - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL
Aug 4 - Slowdown - Omaha, NE
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