The Donkeys
Living On The Other Side
Dead Oceans
The Donkey’s debut Living on the Other Side blends rootsy country rock with a laidback surfer attitude hard to find outside of southern California. The Byrds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo is a clear touchstone, as well as Gram Parsons’ solo work. The Donkeys can’t quite live up to such standards, but then I don’t think this album is meant to supplant the classics. In today’s marketplace, Living On The Other Side is the antithesis to so many production-heavy studio albums. Suddenly, what Living… is not becomes more interesting than what it is. For pop fans, there are no drum machine loops, indulgent theatrics, vocoders or anything that may suggest an Eighties fetish. Country fans won’t find any posturing, false bravado or jingoism. Don’t expect “a boot in the ass” or anything quite so ridiculous. Simplicity is the order of the day and the Donkeys are reminiscent of era in American music when good tunes, laidback lyrics and solid musicianship were sufficient for entertainment. If nothing else, the Donkeys offer good music suitable for a relaxing evening with friends and beer, if you like that sort of thing.
Dead Oceans: http://www.deadoceans.com
