SEEKONK
For Barbara Lee (Kimchee)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz

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Prospects of an anonymous winter on the hard coast of Maine are inviting; at least to me, who envision the rough hewn coast as a place of hard earned bliss and wonder. Rarely, though, do albums or bands emerge from the Pine Tree State, let alone ones so perfectly capturing the essence of its hard blowing onshore ministry.

The warm tones of For Barbara Lee tend to stretch over long, six and seven minute, songs. These longer cuts allow the band to stretch and maneuver through lush, imaginative worlds at a comfortable pace. Seekonk, hailing from Portland (yes, the one in Maine), is one of those bands who sound like Mazzy Star, without losing touch with what Seekonk sounds like. They never hurry or hustle - one time through the somber "swim again" and blood pressure is sure to comfortably sink. The brass instrument and bowed amplified birdcage sounds are awesome and tend to add an element of grandeur that is more than fitting. An album like For Barbara Lee is good enough to toot its own horn once in a while, though still maintaining its shy Portland demeanor.

© 2004 - Erick Mertz