(2015) Alex Bleeker and the Freaks - Country Agenda
Review: Alex Bleeker is largely known as the bassist for Real Estate, but that only partially hints towards the pastoral folk vibes of his strong new album Country Agenda. The project radiates with the love and legacy of the Grateful Dead, of which Bleeker has shown to be a devout fan. Despite the unmistakable influence of the aforementioned rock legends, Country Agenda is seasoned well enough to stand on its own. The album is full of adroitly crafted songs fleshed out with delicate organs, vocal harmonies, and twinkling keyboard touches.
Country Agenda is the follow-up to 2013’s How Far Away, and it’s said to the first Freaks album to have been created collaboratively. According to a press release, “The songs wander in slow motion like a coastline drive, drawing on the same wizened energy and brilliant restraint as Crazy Horse, the Dead, Moby Grape and other like-minded cosmic travelers.”
Country Agenda is the culmination of Bleeker’s song writing, as well as the gelling together of a fully formed band. With the full-time inclusion of guitarist Alex Steinberg, bassist Nick Lenchner, drummer Dylan Shumaker and keyboardist Jacob Wolf, along with occasional guest vocals from Mountain Man singer Molly Sarle, The Freaks’ vibe has coalesced considerably.
Rating 9.0/10
Tracklist: 1 - Little Dream I Had.flac
2 - California.flac
3 - Country Agenda.flac
4 - Portrait.flac
5 - Downright Stinson.flac
6 - The Rest.flac
7 - Sealong Hair.flac
8 - Honey, I Don't Know.flac
9 - The Wind.flac
10 - Turtle Dove.flac
11 - U.H.M..flac
12 - They've Gone Home.flac
Summary: Country: USA
Genre: Indie-Folk
Media Report: Source : CD
Format : FLAC
Format/Info : Free Lossless Audio Codec, 16-bit PCM
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : ~714-902 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
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