The Latebirds, from Helsinki, Finland, sound like they were born from tobacco juice and electric twang. Listening to their latest and third full length album Last of the Good Ol’ Days, one feels a strong sense of déjà vu. Is this an outtakes collection from Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot? The answer is an emphatic NO. Last of the Good Ol’ Days is a precisely performed pastiche of alt-country.
At times, this can be comforting in its familiarity like on the rocking “Time to Live”, and at other times like on “Fearless”, it seems the best course of action might be to listen to Jeff Tweedy instead. The delicate “Like Father Like Son” and “You Cynical You” are weighed down by their self consciousness. On the final track, “Light at the End of the Tunnel”, singer/songwriter Markus Nordstreng sings about staying hopeful in a “world that is broken”. As the song plays out this poignant sentiment it leaves the listener feeling optimistic…and that isn’t such a bad thing these days.
The band should not be condemned for making this record; in fact they have improved from their second album Radio Insomnia, with better overall song and sound quality. This could be credited to producer/engineer Jim Scott for capturing the sound of tight band-playing at peak form in the studio. It could also be attributed to a songwriter working through difficult issues with focus and determination.
The Latebirds have the necessary elements to please their fans, and maybe even win some new ones in the process, but ultimately, they need to pay off their musical debts if they want to move beyond being a second tier genre band.
Final Words: Wilco Redux, or How To Dress “Country” in Finland.
Lollipop Holidays…
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