Friday 15 May 2015

Record Review - Raised By Eagles

Published in the Shortlist section of The Sydney Morning Herald, May 15.

Raised By Eagles
Diamonds In The Bloodstream
Sliprail Records / Vitamin

The concept of the tricky second album is alien to Melbourne quartet Raised By Eagles. Received well, their eponymous debut heralded the arrival of something special, but their second cut transcends this and then some.

A collection of tracks rooted in the alt-country vein but not afraid to stray beyond, Diamonds In The Bloodstream is a songwriter’s album, lyrically robust, telling gritty tales of life raw and real. Frontman and songwriter Luke Sinclair has obviously spent a lot of time listening to Springsteen, the influence evident in the way he takes life most ordinary, and turns it into a series of dusty, sunburnt, living vignettes.

The band, joined on backing vocals on a few tracks by Van Walker, Liz Stringer and Tracy McNeil, add to Sinclair’s lyrics a quietly powerful edge – this album isn’t for playing loud, it’s for delving deeply into, for taking one’s time with, and for fans of great songwriting with a country bent, it ticks all boxes.
4/5


Samuel J. Fell


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