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Blue Rodeo
Palace of Gold
(Rounder)
First Appeared at The Music Box, September 2003, Volume 10, #9
Written by John Metzger
Like most Canadian bands in recent history, Blue Rodeo has struggled to reach
the U.S. market, and part of that reason may lie in the fact that the group
seems to defy being placed within a particular niche. Over the course of its
18-year career, Blue Rodeo has released 9 studio albums, and while it has
frequently delved into Byrds-tinged, alt-country fare, it also hasn’t been
afraid to tackle ’70s-style AM pop or steamy Stax soul.
Never have its divergent tendencies been quite so apparent than on its latest
release Palace of Gold, which adds sweeping string arrangements and a
splattering of horns to the band’s sonic palette. It’s a magnificent effort,
featuring some of the finest songs that the ensemble has ever recorded. The
title track is a bubbly blast of sunshine pop as Bob Dylan-style keyboards glide
over a bed of jangly guitar, while Homeward Bound Angel follows a similar
path, but plays more to its country roots before mutating into a rousing
gospel-soul exaltation. Elsewhere, Stage Door is a grandiose affair that
expands upon the chamber folk-pop of Alejandro Escovedo; Clearer View
charges headfirst into a Rolling Stones-flavored rocker while mixing in a bit of
bubblegum pop; and Comet delves into the Moody Blues’ cosmic catalog with
intriguing results.
Unfortunately, Palace of Gold also features a few duds such as Love
Never Lies and Find a Way to Say Goodbye, both of which attempt to
find the soaring emotional weight of Jackson Browne and Van Morrison,
respectively, but ultimately miss the mark. The worst offender, however is
Bulletproof, a corny, overwrought, pop ballad that brings the proceedings to
a screeching halt, undermining some of the terrific music that follows. Even so,
Blue Rodeo remains firmly committed to covering the sounds and styles of its
influences rather than making them its own, causing parts of the album to feel a
little forced.
Tagged onto the end of the rendition of Palace of Gold that was issued
to the U.S. market are three bonus tracks, all of which were recorded in
concert. The funny thing is that Blue Rodeo actually sounds more comfortable
with these tunes than they do with those on the album. Bad Timing isn’t
all that different from the slow, sleepy ballads recorded for Palace of Gold,
but in a live setting, the band loses the glossy air and permits the song to
breathe in its organic, Band-like beauty. In addition, both the guitar-driven
chug of The Railroad and the swinging You’re Everywhere rock far
harder than anything on the album. It’s enough to make one wonder if Blue Rodeo
is a band better seen in concert; one that still hasn’t figured out how to
capture that magic within the confines of a studio. 
Palace of Gold is available
from Amazon.com. To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
Click Here!
For UK orders, please Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2003
The Music Box
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