SoCal country-rock revivalists Dawes change things up from the 70’s AM sound of their past four albums with more sonic and genre experimentation on We’re All Gonna Die. Their fifth long-player sees the addition of elements like string sections, fuzzed out guitars, horns, glockenspiels, vintage synths, electric drum beats and guest performers Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes). The music still centers around lead singer/songwriter Taylor Goldsmith but takes the poignant twang of their previous efforts and instills it with subtle experimentation, resulting in a set of tracks that are as imaginative and toe-tapping as ever. Highlights include: the fuzzed out rocker and opening track “One of Us”; the funk vibe on lead single “When The Tequila Runs Out”; the carefree reggae beats of “Picture of A Man”; the Latin touched “Less Than Five Miles Away”; the catchy “For No Good Reason”; and the twinkling piano on “As If By Design.” While We’re All Gonna Die may alienate a few Dawes fans, it is great to see them experimenting and expanding their sound for their most energetic album to date! – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | The Avett Brothers, Delta Spirit, The Lone Bellow, Middle Brother