Dreadful Yawns
Despite three excellent albums chock full of breezy Americana, the Dreadful Yawns have yet to get their due, a lackadaisical reaction that finds their name implying a most unfortunate irony. It's significant then, that the band's opted for a shift in stance with the tellingly titled Take Shape, although truth be told, the shape-shift falls short of congealing into any definitive form.
In fact, those familiar with the Yawns' earlier efforts may have trouble getting a handle on the group's new groove. Gone are the sleepy steel guitars and echoes of Poco and Buffalo Springfield. In their place, they've injected an experimental attitude that finds songs like "All the Dead Soldiers," "Don't Know What I've Been On" and "Mood Assassin" morphing from lethargic, heavy-lidded ballads into a psychedelic sojourn imbued with noise, electronic doodling and atonal ambiance. The effects can be jarring, especially when the mellow mood is suddenly subverted with turbulence and tension. Acoustic guitars still prevail, as do the wistful sentiments, but now the band's digressed away from their rootsy realms and adapted a sound that has more in common with mid-period Pink Floyd, as in Meddle, Atom Heart Mother and even Ummagumma.
Fortunately, their melodic sensibilities still shine, especially in songs like "Like Song," which effectively segues from an affable ramble to a soaring crescendo. So too, the gentle drift of "Catskill," which offers a quiet respite. Ultimately though, Take Shape proves inconclusive, a transitional step for a band still in search of direction.
Standout Tracks: "Like Song" "Catskill" "Don't Know What I've Been On" LEE ZIMMERMAN
