When you put out a fairly well-liked Christian rock debut and then fall off of the map for several years, how do you make your way back? By this point, only the most nostalgic of youth pastors will remember Pushstart Wagon while their kids cling for dear life to their Relient K. So what's the solution? Just make a good CD and don't market it to any particular demographic. If it's worth listening to, the people will find you.
LA Was Our Alamo is a pretty good CD, especially from a group of guys who haven't released anything together since 1994. Steve Guiles (Friction Bailey) heads up the trio on vocals, giving the songs enough of a twang to aptly apply an alt-country label on top of the obvious rock influences. No doubt the band has been feasting on some Wilco or something of the sort and this is a good thing.
In all honesty, the opening songs on the album didn't quite sell me. "Paul" and "Radiation" feel like they're trying a bit too hard to work as singles. It gets a lot better with "Country Star," though. It's a sweet, quirky, toned down love song inspired by actual events. I first noticed myself truly enjoying the album with the song "Mary," an easy-flowing acoustic rock piece with a nicely worded offer of hope.
One of the album's best songs is "Love Is Such a Hard Way." It's a thought-provoking, honest musing on the subject of love with the band's laid back, rootsy mid-tempo rock sound at its very best. If you need further proof that Pushstart Wagon can craft a good song, look no further than the acoustic "Los Angeles," a poignant look at big city loneliness.
Pushstart Wagon shows here that they have the ability to craft excellent music. They generally are at their best when steering clear from big rock choruses and instead going for the smooth or even intimate moments. There are plenty of good moments on LA Was Our Alamo, which makes it an album worth recommending.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Scott LakeIf you like the Elms, but with Oasis' vocalist in a slight sneer most of the time, you already know the sound of Pushstart Wagon. Pushstart Wagon does some wandering on a few acoustic side streets where you'll hear steel string flattop as well as some resonator guitars. The first track entitled "Paul" includes a lyric which likely will put off many Christian listeners. "Jesus wouldn't buy you no…Similar sounding releases
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