Radar Bros. - Fallen Leaf Pages (Album)
Three years after parking the tour bus and disappearing off the radar (bad pun, I know), The Radar Brothers have returned with their latest album, ‘The Fallen Leaf Pages’. Comprising Jim Putnam, Senon Gaius Williams and Steve Goodfriend, Radar Bros. have been described as ‘Pink Floyd meets Crazy Horse meets The Beach Boys’ with their laid-back style and smooth melodies. The end result is ‘The Fallen Leaf Pages’, the fourth album from the Los Angeles trio and the follow up to 2002’s ‘And The Surrounding Mountains’.
The album opens with Faces of the Damned, and although it’s a likeable track, I found it a strange choice to open with. It serves as an effective entrée, but it ends rather abruptly and has an overall stunted vibe to it. Fortunately, To Remember is a more pleasant example of what Radar Bros. have to offer. The piano is a great addition to the ensemble and the vocals add to the relaxed atmosphere, a smooth fade-out does nothing to detract from the experience.
The middle section of the album opens with Papillion, and although there’s nothing overly aggravating about the song, I simply found it unremarkable and a little long. We’re Not Sleeping, Sometime, Awhile Ago and The Fish have a similar problem, conspiring to break up the flow of the album.
There are three standout tracks on the album. The first of these is Government Land, which combines drawn-out instrumentals and a change in pace to produce a memorable experience. Also memorable is Dark Road Window, which continues the slower pace to great effect. But the album’s best track appears right in the middle, in the form of Is That Blood. Putnam’s vocals are used to great effect at different stages, and changes in pace are also well utilised.
The addition of two bonus tracks is a nice touch, with the reappearance of the piano on closing track Silver Shoes serving as a reminder of how appealing the end result can be.
Ultimately, ‘The Fallen Leaf Pages’ is a nicely paced album that is well worth a listen. Putnam’s work with the piano is a highlight of the album, and probably could have been utilised to better effect. Although a little dull in parts, ‘The Fallen Leaf Pages’ is a nicely put-together snapshot of the indie genre and should please established fans and newcomers alike.
In a word: relaxed
