The War On Drugs: Slave Ambient

The War On Drugs
Slave Ambient
Secretly Canadian Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: The War On Drugs shine on their sophomore record Slave Ambient!

Album Review:
I am always looking for that perfect record to take on long drives - you know the one - the record that puts your mind at ease so that you can concentrate on the road but just block everything else out that seems like noise, such as bills, relationships and work. The War On Drugs sophomore long player, Slave Ambient, is the record that fits the description. Its slick meld of past, present and future will grab your attention as the group sounds like the pairing of Dylan and Spiritualized or Spaceman 3 and Tom Petty. The start of this of course is the somewhat nasally vocal from Adam Granduciel but then the band swirls the music around the lyrics which allows songs to simply float. On tracks like "Brothers" and "I Was There", Slave Ambient has a very straightforward folkish vibe but with an undertone of synthesizers that gives each track a modern edge. This prepares you for the six minute "Your Love is Calling My Name" that bursts along with beats and keyboards driving the number but still relying on Granduciel's vocals to keep it grounded. The War On Drugs successfully keep this back n forth up as Slave Ambient contains atmospheric instrumental tracks that propel it forward while containing rockers like "Baby Missiles" that will have your feet tapping instantly. The War On Drugs have created a record that has a seamless flow which gets better every time you spin it. It is an album that absorbs you with its 47 minutes and will have you coming away from it feeling rejuvenated and ready to take it for another ride!

Key Tracks: "I Was There", "Come To The City", "Baby Missiles"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Verve
Tom Petty
Spirtualized

The War On Drugs: Future Weather EP [Fire Note Review 10/27/10]
The War On Drugs: Wagonwheel Blues [Fire Note Review 7/23/08]

The War On Drugs Website
The War On Drugs Facebook
Secretly Canadian Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony