We’ve had some nice reviews and features come in over the last few weeks:
Detroit Metro Times
A lot can happen in five years. Children go from being born to being dropped off for their first day of school. Countries are invaded. Even presidents can come and go. A lot can happen. It’s been that long since American Mars released its last album, No City Fun — and that’s long enough for the elegant, trend-defying Detroit roots rockers to have survived some hefty changes. –Read more here.
FreightTrainBoogie.com
(five stars)
This is a dynamic and studied work from Detroit-based American Mars with first rate songs from the band and exceptional production from multi-instrumentalist David Feeny. Cinematic soundscapes such as “Long Walk Home” and “Better Angels” feature lush pedal steel and mix it up with an alt rock guitar style that reminds one of the Cure. Sort of alt.country shoe-gazers Cowboy Junkies meet alt.brit shoe-gazers my Bloody Valentine, with intriguing effect. “Democracity” rocks out in a David Bowie/Lou Reed fashion while “Marionette” is a classic folk rockish cautionary tale. The jacket with this CD offers sincere thanks for finding this “endangered species of recorded music” but besides the musician’s gratitude the reward is in the listening.—Michael Meehan
Real Detroit Weekly
(four stars)
One of last year’s albums that’s really grown on me since its release is Bruce Springsteen’s Magic, quite the stellar comeback tour de force from the Jersey blue collar vet. The third release from Dearborn cowboys American Mars lassos the open range ramble of Magic with the vocals of Thomas Trimble, who crosses between Tom Petty and HOWL-era Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Feeny’s stellar pedal steel and Trimble’s weathered blues on “Long Walk Home,” hit the heart like a thunderbolt, because this is a band that has seen their own struggles, and while The Boss was born to run, American Mars stampedes through Detroit’s rich folk pastures. –Thomas Matich
Detroit Free Press
The up-and-down journey of experimental indie roots-folk band American Mars could fill an episode of VH1’s “Behind the Music.” Numerous lineup changes, family and career challenges, and a frightening cancer diagnosis almost made the band nothing more than a fond Detroit memory. But over the last couple of years, under the leadership of singer-songwriter Thomas Trimble, the members rallied and began new sessions of writing and recording. Now the Americana rockers are revitalized and set to drop a new full-length CD, Western Sides (Gangplank Records)–Read more here.
