REVIEW: Local band offers catchy release with ‘Open Road’
By Brian Beall
Staff Writer
Cinnamon Brown & the Eskimos new album “Open Road” is a catchy, guitar reliant record that reaffirms the group as one of Logan’s best local bands. Over the course of 13 upbeat songs, the band, led by singer Quinn Brown, explore typical college themes with a straight-forward refreshing simplicity.
The songs aren’t revolutionary, but are definitely solid. Take Five to Five, the albums centerpiece. At first it sounds like your basic college radio track, something that would fit in at a frat party. But after awhile, it unwinds into a contemplative Bill Weidner guitar solo, initially vulnerable, suddenly triumphant, stretching the song to well over seven minutes.
Other tracks aren’t as ambitious, but are a fun listen nonetheless. Wild Monkey is a pop song offset with a little twang. It showcases Brown’s “rock-and-roll” style scat over the rhythm provided by Xaq Brown and Leo Denoyer. Quinn Brown’s voice is one of rugged restraint, staying within his range, but taking very few chances. There is no Kurt Cobain scream or Perry Farrel yelp here, instead, the listener gets polished accessibility. This is not necessarily a bad thing. The over-dubbed vocals of the title track are rich and melodic. Throw in guitar that is expressive rather than ornamental, and you’ve got a power ballad done right.
Musicall, the strongest track on the album may be Little Mary, which features a playful exchange between guitars set against the snarling testosterone of Brown’s voice. Weidner interjects with a guitar solo more static than electric, with a clarity reminiscent of the Allman Brother’s Band in their “heyday.” It’s beautiful.
Like any local CD “Open Road” has its limitations however. The production seemed flat because there weren’t distinctive bass lines, and the vocals and guitar often drowned out the percussion.
Most of the songs have the same hurried tempo, played by the same bunch of instruments. It isn’t much of a surprise the songs all sound similar, and there isn’t much of a distinction from one track to the next.
It might have helped if Cinnamon Brown & the Eskimos stripped down a few tracks, slowed things up. As it is, the songs with bongos and congas stand out on an album largely performed by the standard rock instruments. Lyrically, the album is a little primitive, slipping into the realm of Steven Tyler cliché.
Words like “I won’t scratch, no I won’t bite. All I want is you tonight,” aren’t exactly covering new ground. But who cares? Cinnamon Brown & the Eskimos suit Logan just fine. Their music would fit in at just about any social setting the city has to offer. From packed pizza parlors to sunny days on the Quad, their four-piece band is typical enough to be familiar and distinctive enough to keep us interested.