This is mini-CD is now out of print and we have the last copies. The band
is now known as The Broken West and have an amazing record coming out in a
few weeks, but for now, grab this. Quick!
The Short: an excellent 7 song, 28 minute mini-CD from this Los Angeles pop
band that reminds us two of more recent fave pop releases/bands....A.C.
Newman`s "Slow Wonder", the best of poppy Spoon and both records from The
New Pornographers. You heard these bands? Well, yr already thinking about
"add to cart" hopefully. And if you are, you will not be disappointed. Hey,
here`s some more sounds that ring true fro this: the first CD from The
Thrills and any cool Cosmic Rough Riders, bringing a bit of that sunny
California/Laurel Canyon feel into the mix. It`s all heart-meltingly pretty
with layers of cool melodies, stacked harmonies and pounding drums to drive
this great pop straight home to your stereo.
"The Dutchmans Gold is a stunning debut from the Los Angeles-based foursome,
with echoes of straight pop, languid alt-country, and crunchy rock mingled
together to create a compelling listen. "Down in the Valley" will stand as
one of the great pop songs of `05, while "Please" is vaguely reminiscent of
Joe Jacksons "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" Throughout, the
arrangements are inventive, the dynamics are well, dynamic, and the songs
are catchy without ever being obvious. Stellar."-Amplifier.
"A record of sparkling power pop and melancholic ballads, an EP offering
little more than a handful of songs, but songs that resemble classics after
only a couple of spins. Opening with the great throb and jangle of "Down In
The Valley", the short but potent debut moves smoothly through songs
"Please" and "Sparks" to the big payoff track, "My Love Is True"... and what
a payoff it is. The song starts inconspicuously enough, but things pick up
the instant singer/songwriter Ross Flournoy begins to sing. But the chorus
(and this song like all great pop songs, lives and dies by the chorus), when
the chorus hits, with it`s descending guitar line and Flournoy`s yearning
falsetto, that`s what puts this song in rarified company. Then factor in the
simple beauty of the lyric and this chorus will mainline its way into your
heart, putting you into deep sugar shock and letting you know you`re in pop
heaven. This is what all pop songwriter`s should aspire for--this is near
perfect--and surprisingly it doesn`t overpower the other six
songs.."Dignity", in which Flournoy takes his spectacular gift for pop song
writing and colors it blue (stirring up echoes of late 70`s star Gerry
Rafferty). "Down In The Valley", where Elvis Costello meets So Cal jangle
pop. "Sparks" with it`s delicate acoustic guitar and rousing chorus--and
"Please", which is, ohh... just another hooky chorus ringing with the band`s
harmonies... hell, that`s just about the entire disc.. The Brokedown should
be extremely proud of The Dutchman`s Gold."-SixEyes. Found this quote on the
net from Not Lame fave Eugene Edwards on John Hoskinson`s site: "One of the
many startling things about this disc is the production value. Rare is the
disc produced with this much thought and care. The mix is clear but deep.
The playing is subtle and powerful when and where its supposed to be. The
one thing that I cant stop thinking when I listen to this is that this
shouldnt be that hard. The Brokedown, my new favorite band, has made it into
this rotation by caring about their music. It sounds like theyre listening
to much of the same stuff as a lot of us, they just assembled it all in a
way thats dignified, heartfelt, and an absolute joy to witness. How dare
they." "This kind of evolution usually takes several years, but the
L.A.-based quartet has clearly sped up the process in its own musical Petrie
dish, from the Coldplay-covers-the-Church wonder of "Sparks" to the Matthew
Sweet hoedown of "Dignity" and "New Year`s Day" to the
Fountains-of-Wayne-disguised-as-Old-97`s rafter rattling power of "Down in
the Valley" and infectious brilliance of "My Love Is True." The only thing
missing on The Dutchman`s Gold is the other half of the album. Get thee boys
to the Brokedownery and make more of this at your earliest
convenience."-Harp. Need more be said. Reading more at the expense of the
time that could be, should be spent listening to this gem is just plain
wrong. Big Time Extremely Highly Recommended!
 Listen - mp3
Listen - mp3
Listen - mp3
Listen - mp3
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