The Sadies — Darker Circles

A lot has changed for The Sadies over the course of nine albums and countless collaborations with the likes of Andre Williams and Neko Case.

Their early records were insane blasts of instrumental twang recorded hard and fast, documenting their live show at the time. As things rolled on, however, the band have embraced the studio environment and allowed it to shape their approach and sound.

Darker Circles is the latest extension of that journey, and it's definitely a milestone. Their grandiose marriage of country and psychedelic rock has become uniquely their own.  It's also gotten decidedly heavier, almost as if their recent collaboration with Jon Doe on a disc of country standards had purged them of their more blatantly hoedown elements.

While The Sadies' sound has often overshadowed their lyrics, this album should change that notion, too. There's a real unity to the record, exploring the darker sides of humanity, dealing with failure, self-worth, and many other issues of character and morality. With many songwriters in the band, things are surprisingly unified and the record really holds together.

This is a classic example of a band that have developed a distinct sound and style, and are able to keep it fresh within the perimeters they've established. Darker Circles really brings that home and totally makes you hungry to hear what's next.

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