Favourite Colours

Amazon.com
At first glance, it may seem that Toronto's Sadies have merely stood pat with their trademark blend of psychedelic country and twangy surf rock. But theirs has been a sly evolution, and Favourite Colours, their fifth full-length (not including various collaborations), finds them masterfully honing and building on their core sound. There's an emerging depth and pensiveness to their songwriting, a growing sense of spirituality and drama. The imagery is grand and vivid, seemingly drifting from utopian to apocalyptic. The heart of the album is a three-part suite (broken up by a dense, cinematic instrumental) that perfectly exemplifies the Sadies' deft balance of the ominous and the uplifting. The gentle steel and delicate acoustic strumming of "1000 Cities Falling (Part 1)" gives way to the trippy, atmospheric "Song of the Chief Musician (Part 2)" before culminating with the bright, sunny, 12-string-driven "Why Be So Curious? (Part 3)" with its refrain: "why be so curious when nobody knows the truth?" In this balance between tension and consolation one can hear echoes of '60s "cosmic cowboys" the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and Flying Burrito Brothers. Exclusive company indeed, but with their sharp, fluid playing and broadening lyrical and musical scope, the Sadies are fast earning these comparisons. --Marc Greilsamer

Rolling Stone
Combining American groove rock with Spicy Western flavor, the Sadies have created yet another eerie and epic piece of work.

Favourite Colours

Favourite Colours,The Sadies,Yep Roc Records,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Alternative Country-Rock,Canada,Neo-Psychedelia,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Favourite Colours

Average customer rating:

Planetary Observations: In Orbit with The Sadies
retro sixties style
Great songs. Great musicianship.
No Clouds
Byrds, CSN, etc.

Favourite Colours
The Sadies
Manufacturer: Yep Roc Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0002MHESC
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Tracks:

Northhumberland West
Translucent Sparrow
1000 Cities Falling (Part 1)
Song Of The Chief Musician (Part 2)
The Curdled Journey
Why Be So Curious (Part 3)
The Iceberg
A Good Flying Day
Only You And Your Eyes
As Much As Such
A Burning Snowman
Coming Back
Why Would Anybody Live Here?

Amazon.com

At first glance, it may seem that Toronto's Sadies have merely stood pat with their trademark blend of psychedelic country and twangy surf rock. But theirs has been a sly evolution, and Favourite Colours, their fifth full-length (not including various collaborations), finds them masterfully honing and building on their core sound. There's an emerging depth and pensiveness to their songwriting, a growing sense of spirituality and drama. The imagery is grand and vivid, seemingly drifting from utopian to apocalyptic. The heart of the album is a three-part suite (broken up by a dense, cinematic instrumental) that perfectly exemplifies the Sadies' deft balance of the ominous and the uplifting. The gentle steel and delicate acoustic strumming of "1000 Cities Falling (Part 1)" gives way to the trippy, atmospheric "Song of the Chief Musician (Part 2)" before culminating with the bright, sunny, 12-string-driven "Why Be So Curious? (Part 3)" with its refrain: "why be so curious when nobody knows the truth?" In this balance between tension and consolation one can hear echoes of '60s "cosmic cowboys" the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and Flying Burrito Brothers. Exclusive company indeed, but with their sharp, fluid playing and broadening lyrical and musical scope, the Sadies are fast earning these comparisons. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Planetary Observations: In Orbit with The Sadies.......2007-07-01

By now you know they're Canadian and if you don't, then the fact that they spell `Favorite' and `Colors' with a "u" should give you a clue. On their fifth full length album, Toronto's cosmic cowboys serve up their customary combination of psychedelic country-rock instrumentals and songs with dark and brooding lyrics. "Favourite Colours" opens with "Northumberland West", an instrumental that culls and blends Byrds and Outlaws chords. The Sadies then get right to the point of their observation in the next three songs, being that the world is in pretty bad shape what with global terrorism, unending regional wars and impending ecological disaster. That the Byrds influence is strongest on "Favourite Colours" adds sonic context to the consciousness-raising warnings embedded in these songs. A highlight is "Why Be So Curious (Part 3)", which borrows heavily not only from Blue Rodeo's 2002 tune "Already Undone" but also from the Seekers' electric folk-rock. Early Pink Floyd can also be heard in "As Much As Such". Robyn Hitchcock and Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor add guest vocals to songs that wouldn't seem out of place had they been recorded in 1966.

That the Sadies are able to seamlessly weave all of their obviously favorite influences into a sound that is uniquely their own, reveals a band that is creating exciting and vital music that stands a bit outside of the alt-country genre. One gets the sense that their Canadian-ness allows them the freedom to not only assume the stance of not so neutral observers, but to gleefully ransack rock's vaults, garages and groove yards for neat riffs, melodies and styles that help to genuinely rekindle the spirit of the sixties, when speaking one's mind on record got people together and talking. And if you think the closer "Why Would Anybody Live Here?" is a downer, cheer up buckaroo, for The Sadies play such cool music that you definitely want to stick around...at least long enough for their next record! In the meantime, enjoy Favourite Colours now!

retro sixties style.......2006-02-15

The Sadies are new to me;I found this cd in the library. I picked it up because of the picture on the cover--these guys look cool. But to get to the review--if you like the Byrds country period-- you will like this. I liked the instrumentals--contrary to some of the other reviewers. They have a country hippy rock mixed with a strange surf rock guitar at times. The vocals are sort of like the Greatfull Dead meet the Byrds. Great dream trance like feeling when listening to this cd. So if you like Hippy country --get this you won't be disapointed.

Great songs. Great musicianship........2005-09-04

I first heard about these guys because of the Neko Case connection, but they really hold their own on this one. What great sound and musicianship. Bits remind me of a less "indie" The Red Thread, and there's some beautiful Byrdsy stuff on here.

No Clouds .......2005-05-09

On "Favourite Colours" this Toronto-based band turns in a good set. "Song of the Chief Musician (Part 2)" sounds like mid-flight Byrds with the Sadies climaxing in a thunderous guitar storm. "Why Be So Curious (Part 3)" plays at a midtempo pace with jangling guitars and then stops abruptly like a car right before the cliff. Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor chimes in with backing vocals on "A Good Flying Day," "The sun is up, there's no clouds in your way." Of the instrumentals, "A Burning Snowman" stands out with a stately guitar twang that'd make Duane Eddy blush. This set by the Sadies is a good strong outing with sparkling moments, both vocally and instrumentally. Enjoy!

Byrds, CSN, etc........2005-03-06

I got turned on to the Sadies via Jim White's "Drill a hole in that substrate...." CD, since the Sadies help him out on a few tracks. Here, The Sadies plumb Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, and do a pretty good job at it. The album also has a Grateful Dead "American Beauty" vibe. As far as I'm concerned, they should have ditched most of the instrumental tracks. The highlight here is the last track, "Why would anybody live here". This is really a Robyn Hitchcock song, where they wisely let him do the vocals. It's a good album, but from my perspective, they do a great job helping Jim White out, but the reason the Hitchcock tune is the highlight, is that Hitchcock, unlike the Sadies, takes The Byrds, CSN, etc., and throws them sideways instead of simply trying to recreate them. If you're a Sadies fan, be sure to cross pollinate and get the aforementioned Jim White CD if you don't already have it.

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