THE DONKEYS > Living on the Other Side

Although they’re Californians, The Donkeys turn Living on the Other Side into an evocation of the English pub-rock of Brinsley Schwarz. All right, they also mimic the country side of the Grateful Dead. This isn’t a bad thing at all-like Brinsley Schwarz’s Silver Pistol and Nervous on the Road, this record pokes fun at genre even as it suggests the same old dislocation and traffics in time-worn tales of busted romance.Label: DEAD OCEANS
[Rating: 3 STARS]

Although they’re Californians, The Donkeys turn Living on the Other Side into an evocation of the English pub-rock of Brinsley Schwarz. All right, they also mimic the country side of the Grateful Dead. This isn’t a bad thing at all-like Brinsley Schwarz’s Silver Pistol and Nervous on the Road, this record pokes fun at genre even as it suggests the same old dislocation and traffics in time-worn tales of busted romance. “Excelsior Lady” is as funny as its title, while “Walk Through a Cloud” and “Downtown Jenny” are all about how these guys can’t quite muster the energy to change their lives. “Dreamin’” sports a gorgeous arrangement that opens up its sentiments. Nick Lowe, not to mention Ian Gomm, would be proud.