beachwood sparks

[Kismet]

Just heard them on the radio. Kind of liked it. Anyone like them, have anything to say?

[chogdog]

I have that 'when we were trees' album. Its ok but Iin general I think they are the classic case of a band who had great potential but were ruined by a very, very bad and annoying singer.

I would say if you liked what you heard pick up Notorius Byrds Brothers by the Byrds or Meat Puppet's II by the Meat Puppets or Moby Grape by Moby Grape for a similar but much superior type of vibe.

[TANEYTOWN]

I can say I hate um........

[Kizmiaz]

I love their music and so do most of my friends. Got all of their CDs too

[melt]

Love both albums...great band. Sadly they broke up after just two records. They do a gorgeous cover of Sade's "By Your Side" on "Once We Were Trees." Maybe one of my favorite covers ever. I quite like the singer's voice too...to each his own I guess.

[BirdBrain]

I had "Once We Were Trees" too and never got into it. I'm very partial to that psychedelic Californian country sound they do but I just found the songs lacking any distinction.

[Kizmiaz]

Love both albums...great band. Sadly they broke up after just two records. They do a gorgeous cover of Sade's "By Your Side" on "Once We Were Trees." Maybe one of my favorite covers ever. I quite like the singer's voice too...to each his own I guess.

They also did an EP called Make the Cowboy Robots Cry.

[Rick V]

I bought Once We Were Trees and didn't care for it too much initially. But then I saw them live and I got it. Really dig both records they put out. Its a shame they broke up b/c their best work was yet to come imo.

[Twangboat]

I have their S/T I liked a few on it, Canyon Ride to be exact, but they kind of fell on the I got tired of you now leave me alone pile.

[Sandusky]

The funniest thing I read about this band is they all look like Neil Young in different phases of his career. But their music bores me to tears, too arty and indistinctive, can't recall one song except that Sade cover.

[melt]

Shane, I could have sworn you have extolled the greatness of the Sparks on a few threads before. In fact, I'm almost sure of it! What gives buddie???

[Sandusky]

To the above: damn you oldtimers remember too much . Yeah, I praised their debut on the first ACT board back in 2000, but then again I may have said something in the last year or so. I flip flop constantly on artists (i.e. Ryan Adams) so never believe anything I say. Thank God the last two boards are dead or you guys would have tons of ammuinition against me, especially nacho with my lost Marah thread from 2002 .

[Macho]

I like them. Their self titled album is a little better, imo. It doesn't start off hot, but after a few songs I find myself brought to another place- atmospheric to a degree.

[Noodle]

My review of them from Amazon from a coupla' years ago:

Birkenstock Cowboys, June 13, 2002
Reviewer: J. Cattivera (Redondo Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This was recommended to me by a store clerk who had a decent knowledge of Uncle Tupelo and it's successor bands. I don't know what the significance (if any) of the name Beachwood Sparks is, but they should think about changing their name to Birkenstock Cowboys, or maybe Rodeo Tree Huggers. The music sounded pretentious and overemotive, completely sans-hook, and the philosophy evident in the lyrics essentially oversimplified transcendentalism. Think Thoreau on his most overbearing days, wandering around Walden on an acid trip, losing focus and taking it out on a guitar.

I've tried listening to them since then, with no more favorable results.

- Noodle