Jack & the Beanstalk - Cowboys In Sweden

Artist: Jack & the Beanstalk Title: Cowboys In Sweden Catalog#: Parasol-CD-070 Price: $7.50	Tracks on this CD:
	Wilde Hoarse
	Two-Sixty-Five
	Raspberry Jam
	She Drives A Volvo (Windows Media)
	Baby!
	Heard It All Before
	Complete
	Pop Fantasy
	Sing-Along
	Shame
	Curiosity 99
	Who Will Save Rock n' Roll?
	GP 2000

The Australian power-pop sensations buck into the new millennia with 13 tracks of melodic Oz pop that is equal parts rock, punk and country. This is more bent side of "cosmic Americana" if you like.

"Cowboys In Sweden" is the latest album from Jack & the Beanstalk and follows their previous Parasol release "…And Other Stories" [PAR-CD-O24] and (lead singer) Joe Algeri's solo album "Everything Under The Sun" [PAR-CD-037].

Recorded in both Australia and Sweden, this is far more of a bare bones 'band' effort than their previous recordings, especially with the full-time membership of 2nd guitarist, Kevin Borruso (Superscope). Free from studio gimmickry this is definitely a "record and play" job. Older fans won't be disappointed, the band's trademarks of simplicity, directness and melodic strength are still there however.

The musical terrain is vast but the stand out tracks are the hi-octane power-pop of She Drives A Volvo, the Raspberries tribute/pastiche, Raspberry Jam and the Ramone-ish punk-pop of Baby!

As a special bonus, Jack's live sound is captured wonderfully on 3 bonus tracks recorded 'live' in the studio. Who said power-pop bands don't rock?

A special message from Joe Algeri:

Hi, it’s Joe from Jack & the Beanstalk to tell you about our new long player, "Cowboys in Sweden". Some of you may have heard our previous Parasol album "...And Other Stories" or even my solo album "Everything Under The Sun".

Anyway, this album has been a long-time coming; I could write pages about it! Briefly, all the basic tracks were recorded with the band in Australia and then I decided to [temporarily] move to Sweden where I finished overdubs and mixed it.

What can I say about it, overall it has a bit more of a mid-tempo feel compared to our first album plus more rock, country and punk influences. No, were not alt-country but rather a "what you hear is what you get" Aussie rock n’ roll band.

If you get to hear this CD, some of you may notice that it is not mastered as ‘loud’ as a lot of other releases these days. I actually hate those super-wide, loud, compressed, grating modern day sounds. If you like the sound of these songs, you just have to turn the volume up and they will sound sweet!

So if you think denim, fringes, vinyl, Marshall and Vox amps, Telecaster and Rickenbacker guitars, classic melodies, harmony vocals - I think you will like this CD.

Cheers,
Joe