LAKE’s “Let’s Build a Roof”

I first heard “Don’t Give Up” a couple months ago, which happens to be the third to the last song on this record.  The song made me happy. It made me want to dance and I don’t dance unless its with one of my daughters or my wife. We sometimes put on Josh Rouse’s “Don’t Let Go […]

Arthur Alligood
Lake - Let's Build a Roof

8
out of 10

LAKE
Let's Build a Roof
September 2009

I first heard “Don’t Give Up” a couple months ago, which happens to be the third to the last song on this record.  The song made me happy. It made me want to dance and I don’t dance unless its with one of my daughters or my wife. We sometimes put on Josh Rouse’s “Don’t Let Go Of My Love” and just boogie in our living room.  Smiles are plentiful.

Anyways, “Don’t Give Up”  may be our new song to dance to. I think I’ll make a mix tape for my oldest daughter and put this song as the first track. This is where it should be onLake’s “Lets Build a Roof.” No one should have to wait nine tracks to get to a song this good. I don’t care what those nine tracks are like, it’s just not right. But the first nine tracks are pretty good, too. There are beautiful moments. But I should say that I echo Ashley Eriksson’s sentiments on “Sing 99 and 90.” She sings a beautiful confessional, “I couldn’t think of the answer to save my life.” I feel the same way when it comes to writing a thorough review of this record.

I have simple comparisons. The horns on “Remote Control Cars” sound so much like a Van Morrison horn arrangement performed by the hometown brass band. This is a good thing. At other times I’m listening to some 70’s band with fuzzy, distorted guitars and then I find myself hearing Fleet Foxes with girls and a little more spunk and heck of a lot more tambourine. The second half of the record is a little stronger than the front end and I guess thats okay. I suppose its better to end on the right note than fall apart and lose steam at the end.  The last song, though I hate to say it, reminds me of Sufjan. But who doesn’t nowadays? Willie Nelson will put out a record next year that we will all be calling Sufjanesque. Or maybe not. Maybe we’ll just say “Man, that sounds like Willie Nelson.”

As far as LAKE is concerned, it would be accurate to say the same thing. LAKE sounds like LAKE. I like LAKE.  They make me happy.