Color Green is the self-titled debut album from this LA based classic American country rock band whose list of influences in the press release are almost enough to have me running in the other direction. Color Green revolve around Corey Madden and Noah Kohll, they appear to not listen to any music made after about 1971, I am clearly not the target audience for this record, but I'm sure the people that are, will love it.
The A-Side opens with the languid country sounds of Warbling Sky with the pedal steel set against barely there drumming and hazy vocals, as they lay back and try to stay awake long enough to really take a good look at the sky, as the song eventually has a burst of energy like somethings just hit them or they've just heard some rare NRBQ bootleg and are trying to keep up with that.
Ill Fitting Suit appears to be the only sort of suit any of the people they know would wear, as they'd all rather be in Tie-Dyed t-shirts with skulls or skeletons on them, this gently cooks along with some skillful guitar playing right on down that line, it has that loose jam band feel to it, like it might go on for 8 or 9 minutes live rather than the 4 and a bit minutes it is on the album.
Ain't It Sad sounds like they are re-working an old funk tune into a country blues with a good bassline and pedal steel and vocals that are rather indebted to JJ Cale or Chris Rea.
Bell Of Silence has reverb laden vocals and carefully picked guitars to help prepare you to sit in silence after that bell rings, as if this was some kind of Catholic school ritual that's best experienced on acid.
The B-Side opens with Ruby that re-works the tune to Spooky into a JJ Cale style ballad for Ruby who they want to slow down, if this was any slower they would be asleep at the wheel, as he wonders why she might have walked away.
Verdolaga Dreams is in praise of Mexican Parsley, I have no idea if it induces dream states or not, as this sounds like you've got nice and frazzled on mushrooms and weed and are laying back staring off into space, it also has a sax that comes in and out to lift you from the torpor and transport you someplace else.
Stretchin' Thumbs is a super laid back country hitch hiking tune that's all about the interplay between the pedal steel and the picked banjo that will help you drift off as much as find a ride.
The album closes with Blizzed Out that does sound like they have done a line or three too many of the white stuff, but at least it picks up the pace to sound like they want to be Little Feat reworking a classic Status Quo chugger, but with all sorts of harmony vocals. Before towards the end it breaks down like they feel they need to calm down at the end of a binge.
Find out more at https://orgmusic.com/collections/vinyl-lp/products/clrgclrgbl-lp????https://colorgreen.bandcamp.com/album/color-green-2
