Violence in the Snowy Fields

Violence in the Snowy Fields

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Sounding like a cross between timeless murder ballads and the crisply emotive chamber folk of Nick Drake, Dolorean's third album finds them deepening their subtle resolve. Built around the songs and singing of guitarist Al James, this Portland, Oregon quartet are no mere songwriter's showcase. They are the sound of a true band, a fact which can be witnessed by the continually evolving interplay amongst the sympathetically matched players. The songs offer orchestral details which are sometimes actual, as in "Dying in Time," but are also written into the fabric of the songs. Their sturdy chord structures and slowly revealed melodies are full of subtle tensions throughout. Beautiful on the surface, these songs are broader and deeper than many of the Americana contemporaries they're often erroneously pigeonholed with. --David Greenberger

Rolling Stone
Front man Al James is no mere sad sack peddling heartache…Quite simply, this is smart and pretty music.

Violence in the Snowy Fields

Tracks:

The Search
Put You To Sleep
Dying In Time
Holding On
The Destruction
Violence In The Snowy Fields
My Grey Life (Second Chances)
The Righteous Shall Destroy The Precious
In The Fall

Amazon.com

Sounding like a cross between timeless murder ballads and the crisply emotive chamber folk of Nick Drake, Dolorean's third album finds them deepening their subtle resolve. Built around the songs and singing of guitarist Al James, this Portland, Oregon quartet are no mere songwriter's showcase. They are the sound of a true band, a fact which can be witnessed by the continually evolving interplay amongst the sympathetically matched players. The songs offer orchestral details which are sometimes actual, as in "Dying in Time," but are also written into the fabric of the songs. Their sturdy chord structures and slowly revealed melodies are full of subtle tensions throughout. Beautiful on the surface, these songs are broader and deeper than many of the Americana contemporaries they're often erroneously pigeonholed with. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

A beautiful, thoughtful album.......2005-11-10

It takes a few plays, but this album totally gets under your skin. Al James is a very talented songwriter and has a great voice for this kind of material, sounding world weary at times, upbeat at others. The songs are very melodic and the band are augmented by other musicians to give a fuller sound than their first two records, but it's still beautifully understated - never overdone. The production and recording quality are really first rate - and they can deliver the goods live too. Particularly great songs are "Dying in Time" "To Destruction" and the title song. My favourite and most played album in a long time

A nice follow-up to a 5 star album..........2005-01-23

Being a big fan of Dolorean, my expectations were set high for their newest release "Violence in the Snowy Fields." 'Violence' proved to be a very nice record, mixing remnants of their previous "Not Exotic" with some new sounds. This album overall is more produced and lacks the "rawness" that attracted me so much to "Not Exotic." Singer/songwriter Al James does continue to do a great job at tugging at the heartstrings of the listener providing us with tracks like "Dying In Time" and "My Grey Life (Second Chances)." The CD is quite catchy and did grow on me after several listens.

Not as good as the last.............2005-01-21

Pretty solid album but not nearly as good as "Not Exotic". 'To Destruction' is a pretty good tune but the other 8 tracks are average. Frontman Al James is no doubt a terrific musician but I found it was difficult for me to relate to his lyrics in this one. If this is going to be your first Dolorean purchase, buy "Not Exotic" instead.

Mesmerizing combination of lyrics, folk, country and rock.......2004-10-27

The opening track of this Oregon band's third CD is one of the most mesmerizing country-folk-rock tunes to come around in quite awhile. The loping two-step tempo is layered with hints of psychedelia in the fuzzed guitar and drifting piano lines, and the bunched male vocals bring to mind the harmonies of The Band and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. A similar groove is captured on the title track as well, but the rest of the album has other styles on its mind.

At the band's core are Alex James' wordy folk songs and quietly rendered vocals; think Nick Drake, Elliot Smith, and the introspective desolation of Leonard Cohen. Strummed and finger-picked guitars are often balanced by strings, keyboards, vibraphone, and brushed drums that provide moodily shifting underpinnings. The most startling tracks feature vocals backed starkly by acoustic guitar and light touches of violin or keyboard, including the weary goodbye "My Grey Life (Second Chances)," dreamlike salvation of "Put You to Sleep," and autumnally Alex Chilton-esque "In the Fall." Drummer Ben Nugent brings a few tracks to a rolling boil, including "The Righteous Shall Destroy the Precious."

Like many in the quiet-is-the-new-loud vein, Dolorean won't jump out and grab your ears with catchy riffs or startling dynamics. It's the depth of James' lyrics, and the heart and subtlety with which they're rendered that stand up to repeated listenings and yield evolving appreciation. Play this for yourself, on headphones or on a long drive along a lonely road and its charms will reveal themselves.

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