Every time I see the label Dangerbird Records, I smile to myself and think about the Silversun Pickups. That has nothing to do with this review; I just thought I’d mention it. Eulogies (The Eulogies?) put together a nice and steady listening experience here. It definitely falls into that indie rock groove, but with some kinda alt.country twang hitting underneath. Like Ryan Adams jamming with Guided By Voices… or something like that. Dare I say Pavementesque? Not the vocals as much as the rhythm, the drum shifts and guitar hits – I hear it. It’s in there, I swear.

Singer Peter Walker sometimes hits kind of like a Dave Shouse figure (from the Grifters / Bloodthirsty Lovers / Those Bastard Souls) but with more mellowness in the slight reverb of voice. The backing band, or – I mean – the rest of the band – hits all the right notes, playing against the vocals and guitar like a good rhythm section should. With Tim Hutton on the bass and Chris Reynolds on drums, Eulogies move like some desert dreamscape, kicking at empty bottles and waiting for the sun to hopefully rise again. Some songs move up and anthemic, sliding some kind of Britpoppiness in to the countrified indie grooves. That’s gotta take talent. Other songs move across a Flaming Lips / Band of Horses plain, but lower and steadier.

The moods are mellow and subdued for the most part, but somehow the energy doesn’t let you fade – you just keep on listening, and wanting to listen again. Don’t let the song titles fool you – with words like “Suicide”, “Under the Knife”, and “Useless Amends” – you would probably just put it down as a nice slice of depression, but while not quite No Depression (ha – alt.country… no depression… get it?), these Eulogies manage to give you more hope than hopelessness.