Sweet Saint Me is Two Cow Garage’s fifth record. This is significant. Craig Finn of the Hold Steady recently expounded on the fifth album concept. Upon the release of his band’s latest opus and fifth record, he talked about the significance of a fifth album for a band, noting that most bands-even the successful ones- don’t make it to a fifth album. Two Cow Garage have had their share of adversity. From the long delay of the release of III to the departure of drummer and founding member Dustin Harigle, the band has had every reason to call it quits. But thank god they haven’t, because they are one of America’s truly great rock and roll bands. That much the arrival of Sweet Saint Me should make clear to anyone even pretending to listen to rock music. Two Cow Garage are the real deal.
Sweet Saint Me sounds exactly like I wanted it to. As one of the few detractors of their last record Speaking in Cursive, I felt the band was a little too polished, a little too mainstream indie rock sounding (for them). They weren’t the ragged, unhinged rock and roll band I had fallen in love with. On Sweet Saint Me they find their sweet spot again. Opening with “Sally, I’ve Been Shot†the band sounds like they are playing for their lives with electric guitars and lyrical yelps abound. Single “Lydia†would be a hit 30 years ago with its catchy chorus and Lolita lyrics re-inventing a classic rock cliché. It is followed by my favorite song on the record, “Jackson, Don’t You Worryâ€, the sole acoustic song. Written by principle songwriter Micah Schnabel for the other songwriter in the band Shane Sweeney’s newly born baby boy, the song is classic Two Cow. The lyrics are the some of the best Micah has ever written, yet cover some of the same topics, the road, love, and the toll each takes. Characteristic of Micah’s songwriting, the song translates to wide audience. It truthfully brought a tear to my eye the first time I heard it.
Two Cow Garage “Lydia” Official Video from Suburban Home on Vimeo.
That being said, one of the more significant advances Two Cow makes on this record is the strength of Sweeney’s compositions. Like usual, he contributes two of the thirteen songs. But whereas in the past he could be hit or miss for me, his songs here, the Springsteen-esque “Wanted to Be†and the Tom Waits-esque “Closer to Me†are both outstanding with stellar hooks. The latter in particular shows a command of melody that finds Sweeney rivaling Schnabel. His duet with Schnabel on “Lucy and the Butcher Knife†is also a pretty cool listen. The song is a rollicking story song that must be a wonder to behold when they do it live.
The heart and soul of the band will always be Schnabel. Exhibit A: “My Great Gatsbyâ€. Another classic that rollicks forward as Micah spits out lyrics and the band roars into another sing-along chorus, “this will be my battle cry/ the thing for which I will fight and die/ my Gatsby, my Catcher in the Rye/ good-bye, hi, hiâ€. The record closes with the poignant “Brother in Armsâ€, which builds and builds with drums and organ with Micah’s voice just on the edge of cracking (and then cracking). It’s a perfect sign-off to a perfect record. Enjoy.
RIYL: Lucero, The Hold Steady, Drive-By Truckers
About the author: Specializes in Dead, Drunk, and Nakedness..... Former College Radio DJ and Current Craft Beer Nerd