The semi-
Ennio Morricone
touches and twangs on the band's earlier work get a little more foregrounded on
the Lorries
' second album, but then that had more than a little to do with the cover art and font style -- pure Old West (as filtered through TV and movies). Again,
the Fields of the Nephilim
may have made it more famous, but
probably had more outright fun (of a sort) with it in the end. Though that said,
"Shout at the Sky"
has
Chris Reed
sounding exactly like
the Fields
'
Carl McCoy
, which if intentional might not have been the wisest way to go. Trappings aside,
Paint Your Wagon
is another fine album and actually probably a better one in the end, with a bit more energy in the arrangements.
Reed
's guitar playing, supplemented by
David Wolfenden
, shows a touch more intricacy and flair this time around -- not a major leap forward but he often creates some inspired, epic, work, as on
"Last Train"
or the slow grind conclusion
"Blitz."
"Head All Fire"
and
"Save My Soul"
are sharp examples of how
and company can rework what were already established approaches into something new and thrilling.
"Which Side"
goes that step even a bit further thanks to the use of the old "which side are you on" trope --
Billy Bragg
did it one way,
aims for something a bit more in his echoed milieu. Even some of the semi-filler tracks like the instrumental
"Mescal Dance"
have enough spikiness to carry the day. ~ Ned Raggett