Like a 1970s country-rock band without the accents or heavy-duty amplifiers, the Donkeys offer up a sun-streaked batch of acoustic guitars, harmonies, and laid-back rhythmic shuffle on their second LP. It's difficult to hear music this nostalgic without riffling through a list of soundalikes, and the Donkeys inevitably draw comparisons to bands that pioneered such a hazy California sound, particularly the Grateful Dead and the Eagles. The Donkeys don't flaunt many Garcia-sized jams during Living on the Other Side, however, nor are their harmonies polished to a spit-shining glow like the Hotel California architects. Instead, Living on the Other Side features 11 tracks that amble along at a comfortable pace, from the harmony-rich "Walk Through a Cloud" (one of the band's strongest combinations of country influence and breezy pop sensibilities) to the trippy, sitar-filled strains of "Dreamin'." Elsewhere, the band makes room for pillow-soft rock ("Traverse Wine") and stomping campfire singalongs ("Bye Bye Baby"), seemingly content to explore the detours and backroads of country-rock without losing sight of the main thoroughfare. While some groups take a self-consciously retro approach to their craft, Living on the Other Side is uncalculated and unassuming its delivery, evoking an earlier era without dressing the band in Glenn Frey's castoff threads from the Desperado cover shoot. It's also incredibly tuneful, which makes the Donkeys' second effort an enjoyable summer album.
Speaking of bands that were dealt an unfair hand by Pitchfork, let me introduce you to The Donkeys. I hadn't heard of them until the Pitchfork review and luckily I was able to read between the lines. This is a loose translation of their review. "I am a self-important music critic" which was followed up [...]
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--- - |- Photo by Jeff WenzelIt's a match made in beach metaphor heaven. San Diego surfer bros (and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone pals) the Donkeys will ride the waves of Dead Oceans with the release of their second album, Living on the Other Side.The album comes out on September 9, and the Donkeys have a tour scheduled around its release. That tour begins in September and includes a Septe...
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--- - |- Photo by Jeff WenzelIt's a match made in beach metaphor heaven. San Diego surfer bros (and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone pals) the Donkeys will ride the waves of Dead Oceans with the release of their second album, Living on the Other Side.The album comes out on September 9, and the Donkeys have a tour scheduled around its release. That tour begins in September and includes a Septe...
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.....and some things never change. Once there was a way to get back homeward.....Boy you're gonna carry that weight a long time. My Son & His Wife & My Grandson came to town yesterday & I met Jonah Danger for the first time. He's nine months old & loves to smile & laugh and grab at grandpa's moustache. But I am so thoroughly enjopying the obvious pleasure these two young people have in bei...
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At first blush San Diego's The Donkeys seem stuck in a sunny California vibe circa '66. Gorgeous pop melodies, neon Harmonies, simple tasteful music..........upon closer examination they are...........just like your first impression.
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Speaking of bands that were dealt an unfair hand by Pitchfork, let me introduce you to The Donkeys. I hadn't heard of them until the Pitchfork review and luckily I was able to read between the lines. This is a loose translation of their review. "I am a self-important music critic" which was followed up [...]
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The Donkeys - "Excelsior Lady" This brings me back. I was a fur collar toddler, a brown corduroy kid, walking hippy and arms akimbo down a dirty ol' street. The sun started sitting down at 2 in the afternoon, and shot orange glances at us all day long in the city's pretend pond. Even those little stony fountain pools needed lifeguards, and ours was Dounia Harris. She was ten feet tall if sh...
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--- - "Sometimes it's the little things that make you fall in love. Like a fumbled backing vocal on a Beatles track, or the Undertones\xE2\x80\x99 tank tops. From the moment I heard the sonic 'bump' of a lead being plugged in during the airy intro to 'Gone Gone Gone', something seemed to click. These West coast slacker country-rockers are too busy having a good time (bong induced or not) delive...
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--- - |- Who : The Donkeys from San Diego. What : I was at a wedding last night and even though I was the designated driver, I'm still feeling this morning that we should start things slowly. So sit back, relax and throw on this tune by the Donkeys . A new song from Living On The Other [...] ~~- The Donkeys
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Gone Gone Gone |
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| 2 Walk Through a Cloud |
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| 3 Dolphin Center |
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| 4 Pretty Thing |
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| 5 Traverse Wine |
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| 6 Bye Bye Baby |
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| 7 Downtown Jenny |
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| 8 Nice Train |
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| 9 Dreamin' |
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| 10 Boot on the Seat |
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| 11 Excelsior Lady |
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 "Living on the Other Side")
