October 18–25, 2001

cd reviews|rock/pop

The Court and Spark

Bless You

(Absolutely Kosher)

The Court and Spark are a moody band, or maybe they just make moody music. The San Francisco sextet feels just as comfortable indulging in straight country rock, fit for a hoedown, as they do dreaming up melancholy ballads that make happy days seem sad. If Townes Van Zandt wrote a response to Lou Reed’s elegiac album Berlin and hired Mojave 3 to back him up, the result might be similar to their latest disc. Bless You finds the group meandering through 10 tracks laced with pedal steel, vibrato guitar, brushed drums, banjo and the sweet-as-syrup vocal harmonies of M.C. Taylor and Wendy Allen. Former Byrd Gene Parsons lends a hand, adding mandolin, guitar and harmony. Although they don’t offer a new musical perspective, the honest delivery is evidence enough that Taylor and company are well qualified to help carry on the tradition of down home rock ’n’ roll. Especially on songs like "National Lights" and "To See the Fires." All in all, the perfect soundtrack for driving toward the sunset, or stumbling home at dawn.

—Geoff Matis

The Court and Spark will perform Thu., Oct. 18, 9 p.m., $7, with Idaho (see Musicpicks, La Guardia and Asteroid #4 at The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.