You Can't Win

Dolorean / CD / 2007

Zoom

Send to Friend

User Rating:

Overview

More Info

In-Stock: Ships within 24 hours

You Can't Win is a slow drive through the kind of America that feels as wrung out and worn through as a pair of old sneakers. It's the kind of terrain traversed by other introspective, rustic, youngish men like Jeff Tweedy, Joe Purdy, and (to an extent) Will Oldham -- the kind of place you go if you're looking for empty stretches of pavement and hulking, rusted-out factories moldering in the tall grass. Dolorean's lead singer and songwriter, Al James, is interested in stories about men on the outskirts; You Can't Win, to put it in the words of writer James Salter, concerns itself with "a breed of aimless wanderers" who "have an infuriating power, that of condemned men. They can talk to anybody; they can speak the truth." James is interested in giving voice to this truth, and it sure does yield some sad songs. While James plods over some clich�d subjects on this album (women and booze chief among them), he at least has a knack for story. "Beachcomber Blues" and "My Still Life" tread the usual territory of busted hearts and broken dreams, but James manages to flesh out these old ideas in some surprising ways; the beachcomber becomes a symbol for the directionless wanderer, and the arid Californian landscape is riddled with images of an ex-lover. Granted, there's a lot of drowsy, dull-hearted shambling going on here, and it's a little depressing to come up against a wall of relentless melancholy such as this. But even if this trip is a tad on the soporific side, Dolorean still manages to travel through some beautiful country. ~ Margaret Reges, All Music Guide

$10.39
List Price: $14.98
Save: $4.59 (31%)

USER REVIEWS write your own review

Average Review:

Number of reviews: 1

Pete S from bucks UK
A beautiful album from the Pacific North West
Following on from the two beautiful albums "Not Exotic" and "Violence In The Snowy Fields", Dolorean's "You Can't Win" has a lot to live up to. Al James, the band's leader and songwriter, rises to the challenge and produces their best, most accessible and most consistent work to date. From the start, it's clear that the band were willing to take some chances and further develop their sound (an alt:country/folk/pop blend) while still retaining the qualities that Dolorean fans have come to admire. Throughout this album of 11 new songs, the band are augmented by the fine, edgy and bluesy guitar work of Emil Amos ( from the band Holy Sons) Also noticeable on the album is the increased focus on harmony work on a number of tracks (often achieved through multi-tracking), very strong melodies throughout and experimentation with different instruments to produce some beautifully layered tracks and a much fuller sound. Lyrically, the album seems a little simpler and more direct than their previous work although Al still chooses his words very precisely - there's nothing sloppy here - everything seems very well considered. Standout tracks include the piano driven "We Winter Wrens" and the six minute "Beachcomber Blues" Dolorean display a new quiet confidence on this fine album and I hope it will bring them a wider audience. They really deserve to be heard.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE


	A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila: The Complete Uncensored First Season [3 Discs] ~~$39.99~~ $29.55


	MTV Houndstooth Tote ~~$29.99~~ $21.99


	Rock Band-Game Only $58.75


	The Hills Intern Tee ~~$22.00~~ $18.99