Califone: Roots & Crowns

Two years after the release of their third full-length, King Heron’s Blues, Califone present Roots & Crowns, their newest album on Thrill Jockey. As usual, Tim Rutili and Co. offer up some lazy, daydream inspired alt-country tunes that have changed little in the last ten or so years.

Though Roots & Crowns may be more on the music end of the spectrum as opposed to previous releases that reveled more in ambient space and drones, Califone still stick to a fairly comfortable and predictable pattern with their newest release. As a listener, I yearn for something more from these creative minds.

Either there has to be more to Califone than dreamy, spacey country tunes, or else they are really trying to perfect an idea that Tim Rutili got in his head sometime in the ’90s. Whether their style is getting stale or Califone is merely attempting to achieve perfection with their music, there is little doubt that Roots & Crowns offers up a pleasant listening experience.

– Chris Smith
Califone (Thrill Jockey)