There is certainly no shortage of fantastic music coming out of Austin, Texas these days, and Alejandro Rose-Garcia, aka Shakey Graves, is right at the top of the list with his genre defying mashing of blues, folk, rock, and country.
On Can’t Wake Up, his fifth album, Shakey Graves offers a full band effort, where instruments we aren’t used to from him are in attendance alongside plenty of energy and grit that unfold in all sorts of unpredictable and unclassifiable ways.
“Counting Sheep” gets the listen off to a soulful start with restrained instrumentation that’s plenty rich and surrounded by some charming haze. “Kids These Days” continues the textured setting with strong percussion and a venture into a more pop-focused display that could rival your favorite indie pop outfit.
With 13 tracks on hand, the record gives us plenty to absorb. It all digests well with the spirited and somewhat haunting folk sensibilities of “Excuses,” while the swift pace of “Cops And Robbers” impresses us with its flowing melodies and driving rhythm. “Albohphobia,” one of the best selections present, then offers a quirky display that builds into a busy execution of multifaceted rock that’s as noisy as it is alluring.
Deep into the listen, “Backseat Driver” gets dreamy and smooth in its soothing nature and “Tin Man” exits the listen with a playful, old time feel where blues ideas are used in unconventional and highly impressive ways.
A fascinating listen where psychedelic climates are just as common as some form of Americana, if you’ve never heard Shakey Graves before, well, you’re missing out. Can’t Wake Up would be an ideal starting place, especially if you appreciate the intimacy of Blind Pilot, the adventurous song craft of M. Ward or the organic approach of The Devil Makes Three.
