(Low Transit Industries/Inertia)

Short, sharp break-up album from Tim Bracy and Shannon McArdle with extra disc

30 Year Low is the final album by The Mendoza Line, marking the break-up not only of the band, but also of the marriage between singer/songwriters Tim Bracy and Shannon McArdle.  The couple share the vocals on the record, with Okkervil River’s Will Sheff also turning up to give a hand. Although it is Bracy who dominates the songwriting, the three efforts by McArdle are among the highlights, with the acidic 31 Candles a thrilling, f-bomb dropping slice of cranky power-pop. For his efforts, Bracy channels his heroes Springsteen and Dylan to create compositions equal parts gruff and vulnerable. It’s all over in just eight songs, but the CD also comes with a generous 18-track bonus disc, comprising a collection of demos, live tracks, studio doodles and covers of artists from Cole Porter to Richard Thompson. It’s an album in the tradition of Rumours and Blood On The Tracks, only in that it’s also a divorce record, but musically it maintains the duo’s unique hybrid of alt-country, punk, campfire folk and sparkling indie melodies. So long Mendoza Line, you’ll be missed.

*** ½

MATT THROWER

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*