January 12, 2007 | Posted by David B. at 9:37 AM

No one feels the darkness

the broken west

If you're a power pop fan, you're used to having your heart broken. A band either pairs the handclaps/three-chord template with great melodies, or they imitate Big Star for the sake of imitating Big Star.

Bravo, then, for The Broken West. This band - which was known as The Brokedown until a different band claimed the name for themselves - has got it all figured out. Not only are their songs memorable, the production on their new record for Merge, I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, is fantastic. Guitars chime and crunch, voices go from one channel to the other, songs sound simultaneously dense and expansive. It's a fun, melodramatic, catchy record. In short, it's a good pop record.

The Broken West - Down In The Valley.

This song didn't strike me at first; I'm not sure if I just wasn't initially in the mood, or if the track needs to grow on you. It did grow on me, though, as did the rest of the record.

I Can't Go On, I'll Go On comes out on Jan. 23 - why not pre-order it, or put it on the Wish List?

Comments

Definitely a great album! The band members are really nice guys, too.

Posted by: rachael m. at January 12, 2007 2:22 PM

listen to it a few more times and give it what it deserves

Posted by: humi at January 20, 2007 12:04 AM

by that i mean a much more enthusiastic and glowing review

Posted by: humi at January 20, 2007 12:05 AM
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