The Rose of Aces
seems to splice at least two titles from the extended
Grateful Dead
Universe -- there's
Bob Weir
's solo album
Ace
and the
Dead
's standard "Ramble On Rose," not to mention the
Skull and Roses
album -- so, once again,
Cordovas
fly their freak flag proudly. What separates
from the legions of
-inspired bands in the 21st century is that they seem intent on replicating the ramshackle charms of
American Beauty
, adding just a touch of
the Band
to keep things relatively streamlined. There are hints of other longhaired roots rockers scattered throughout
-- "Sunshine" and "Stone Called Stoned" generate a bit of the sunny Texas groove of
Doug Sahm
, the Latin rhythms of the closing "Somos Iguales" are firmly within
Santana
's wheelhouse -- yet the rambling rhythms and percolating guitar keep deliberately recalling the
in a pleasing fashion. As on
Destiny Hotel
, the group directs the listener's attention squarely upon the song, keeping melodies and harmonies at the forefront, a trick that keeps this shaggy album lucid:
may be hippies but they're too enamored with tunes to drift too far into the slipstream. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine