The Broken West
I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
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AMG Review of I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
Tim Sendra
All Music GuideThe Broken West may hail from Los Angeles but they reside at the crossroads where indie rock, power pop and country-rock meet and mix together into something quite wonderful. Unfailingly tuneful and sweetly melodic, the group's debut is a rollicking gem of a record that may remind you of lots of bands but it also vaults them on an equal footing. Not too many bands can equal their influences on their first try, but the Broken West do it. There are a couple keys to their success, the first of which is some judicious borrowing of classic techniques and sounds. From power pop they borrow tight vocal harmonies, walls of chiming guitars and classic song structures, from country-rock they take barroom pianos and a general looseness, and indie rock provides the atmospheric, reverb-y production. Other bands have attempted a similar thing and done fairly well (Beachwood Sparks, the Bigger Lovers) but the Broken West are one of the few that put all the pieces together perfectly. The second way they succeed is by giving their warmer-than-the-California-sun sound a jolt of East Coast toughness and energy. So many bands confuse being laid-back with being comatose, so it's good to hear a band who give their richly layered tunes some heart and soul. Of course, all of this would add up to something nice but forgettable if the band had no good tunes; luckily, they do. Just about every song sounds like a radio-ready single on the best station around. The best songs (like "On the Bubble," "Hale Sunrise" and "So It Goes") are the kind you put near the front of a "please fall in love with me because I love great music" mixtape. That may not get anyone to love you but it's certain that anyone who loves this kind of classic indie rock will definitely fall in love with the Broken West and their near-perfect debut.
The Broken West
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Has anyone else heard of these guys? I recently bought their album and am loving it. Sounding at times like a smoother Spoon, Wilco or even Calexico this album employs a sound that harkens back to the great rock-pop gems like The Posies or Teenage Fanclub. Really nice stuff, that I hope does not get swept under the rug of ignorance perpetuated by those who can't grasp that "pop" does not equ...
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Pitchfork reviews The Broken West's new record
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Nice review on The Broken West's new record from Pitchfork.http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/40787/The_Broken_West_I_Cant_Go_On_Ill_Go_On
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The Broken West: Live on-air at Little Radio
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Tune in to hear The Broken West from 2 to 4 pm (PST) on the "Aquarium Drunkard" show. The band will be playing acoustic tracks off of their superb debut "I Can't Go On, I'll Go On" (Merge Records).
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Down In The Valley w/ The Broken West
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You Ain't No Picasso just hipped my ears to Los Angeles five-piece 'The Broken West' a recent addition to the ever impressive Merge Records stable. If you're sucker for Power Pop then you'll love the early tasters from the bands forthcoming album “I Cant Go On, Ill Go On” and their meaty and melodic nods to Chilton's 'Big Star'.The album is set to release Jan 23rd state-side and will be accomp
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Stream The Broken West's "Down In the Valley"
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The Broken West is a great power-pop band, and this track, "Down in the Valley," off their album, I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, is excellent.
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Down In The Valley w/ The Broken West
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Artist:
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Album:
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Track:
You Ain't No Picasso just hipped my ears to Los Angeles five-piece 'The Broken West' a recent addition to the ever impressive Merge Records stable. If you're sucker for Power Pop then you'll love the early tasters from the bands forthcoming album “I Cant Go On, Ill Go On” and their meaty and melodic nods to Chilton's 'Big Star'.The album is set to release Jan 23rd state-side and will be accomp
More >
Pitchfork reviews The Broken West's new record
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Artist:
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Album:
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Nice review on The Broken West's new record from Pitchfork.http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/40787/The_Broken_West_I_Cant_Go_On_Ill_Go_On
More >
The Broken West
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Artist:
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Has anyone else heard of these guys? I recently bought their album and am loving it. Sounding at times like a smoother Spoon, Wilco or even Calexico this album employs a sound that harkens back to the great rock-pop gems like The Posies or Teenage Fanclub. Really nice stuff, that I hope does not get swept under the rug of ignorance perpetuated by those who can't grasp that "pop" does not equ...
More >
The Broken West: Live on-air at Little Radio
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Artist:
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Album:
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Track:
Tune in to hear The Broken West from 2 to 4 pm (PST) on the "Aquarium Drunkard" show. The band will be playing acoustic tracks off of their superb debut "I Can't Go On, I'll Go On" (Merge Records).
More >
 "I Can't Go On, I'll Go On")
