Most Popular
-
Death in the Inner Circle
Apparent murder-suicide cuts to the heart of the mayor's southern Dallas advisors
-
Battle Against Teaching Evolution in Texas Begins
Should creationism win out, textbooks throughout the country–not just Texas–will challenge the theory of evolution in science curricula
-
After Their Murder-Suicide, Questions About Rufus and Lynn Flint Shaw's Shady Dealings Haunt Dallas
-
The Dwaine Caraway Show
Starring that new breed of politician who wants to root out your crack houses, close down your whorehouses and pull up your pants
-
Life Without Debt Leaves Jimmy Phipps Owing Society
-
Obama and Me (69)
It was the year 2000, and I was a young, hungry reporter in Chicago with a young, hungry state legislator on my speed dial
-
Murder at the Howard Johnson's Serves Up Flavorful Fare (27)
Also: Collin College kicks up heels with Li'l Abner and unfunny Nipples at Hub
-
Death in the Inner Circle (21)
Apparent murder-suicide cuts to the heart of the mayor's southern Dallas advisors
-
Battle Against Teaching Evolution in Texas Begins (15)
Should creationism win out, textbooks throughout the country–not just Texas–will challenge the theory of evolution in science curricula
-
Arguments Creationists Make to Counter Evolution (15)
-
Four Clubs Closed in Deep Ellum and Exposition Park in the Past Month
So where's the outcry?
-
Vampire Weekend Backlash at SXSW
The hype factory had everyone ready to hate on Vampire Weekend before the band arrived in Austin
-
10 Artists We'd Resurrect for Easter
Included: Freddie Mercury, Hank Williams and Patsy Cline
-
You Don't Have to Head to SXSW to Find a Festival This Week
Dallas has something for all tastes in town
-
South by Southwest Bounty Overflows to Benefit Dallas
This and next week are full of big-name acts making their ways to or from the Austin festival
-
At Least Deep Ellum'll Look Pretty
04:57PM 03/31/08 -
Jerryworld: The Worst Timeshare Ever?
03:59PM 03/31/08 -
Central Dallas Ministries' "Destination Home" for the Homeless
02:48PM 03/31/08 -
Dove Hunter Album About A Month Away; Calhoun's Is Kinda Ready Now
05:24PM 03/31/08 -
Weekend Video Round-Up: Mount Righteous, PlayRadioPlay!, Fu Manchu, A Fine Frenzy, My Brother In Arms
03:47PM 03/31/08 -
Still No News, Really, On The James Dante Kings Front
12:41PM 03/31/08
What we are writing about
- Austin
- Avi Adelman
- Barack Obama
- baseball
- boxing
- cheap lunch
- Craig Watkins
- creationism
- Dallas Cowboys
- Dallas Mavericks
- Daniel Day-Lewis
- DART
- Deep Ellum
- DVD releases
- evolution
- Guitar Hero
- illegal immigrants
- Jason Kidd
- Little Mexico
- Lynn Flint Shaw
- Mexicans
- Nintendo Wii
- Oak Cliff
- Playstation 3
- Rufus Shaw
- sex advice
- tacos
- Texas Rangers
- There Will Be Blood
- Tony Romo
Recent Articles By Jesse Hughey
-
Sons of Hermann Skids Out
-
PlayRadioPlay
Texas (Island)
-
Potential Johns, The Wax Museums, Koji Kondo, Pools, Icarus Crane, Rocket For Ethiopia
Sunday, March 23, at Carrollton Arts Plaza, Carrollton
-
Dropkick Murphys' Al Barr Talks World Series and Oscar Wins
-
Centro-matic, South San Gabriel, Robert Gomez
Saturday, March 8, at the Granada Theater
National Features
-
Miami New Times
Perez Hilton: Exposed!
Can a "crazy, flamboyant dork" from Miami find happiness as a Hollywood mudslinger?
By Francisco Alvarado -
Nashville Scene
Chip Off the Old Rock
Songwriter Justin Townes Earle has struggled with addiction--just like his proud papa.
By Michael McCall -
Phoenix New Times
"Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy"
Have they become the magic words when a state wants to terminate parental rights?
By Megan Irwin -
SF Weekly
Out of the Woodwork
Union carpenters describe a little slice of Jim Crow smack dab in the middle of America's most PC city.
By Lauren Smiley
El Gato had some big expectations to meet. It's been almost six years since its last release, and the beautifully rich, layered orchestral pop of 2002's We're Birds would have been a tough act to follow even without the long wait.
Surrender! may not quite be the equal of We're Birds, but it's darn close—and inching its way closer with every listen. Though the songs don't blend as seamlessly as they did on the previous album, Surrender! is surprisingly cohesive for an album that was recorded in two states by five different producers (including Dallas' Pipes brothers and Stuart Sikes).
Opener "Scorpions in Your Shoes" sets the tone nicely, with heavy, reverberating guitars crunching over organ and a plodding martial beat. Honey-voiced singer John Vineyard conjures abstract images ("Plastic owls hunt plastic mice") that seem to be a subtle comment on the futility and frustration ("I can't explain the things I do again and again") felt in the aftermath of a breakup. "The Frustrated Cowboy" picks it up a bit and adds quirky percussion, featuring an outro chorus ("Drink twice as fast and twice as much") that bartenders are sure to appreciate. Another highlight is the uptempo "Wild Turkey." During the chorus, the piano and fuzzed-out guitar double up in a simple ascending scale that sounds perfectly appropriate.
Surrender! is a worthy follow-up to El Gato's masterpiece, with some of the prettiest songs about heartbreak you could ever hope for.
