Elliott Brood – Days Into Years review

Elliott Brood’s “Days Into Years” album offers ten songs feeling like modern rock with old-time bluegrass and folk influences. The presence of rather heavy electric guitar lines on most of the tracks adds a harder edge, and this works well when spaced with the lighter, more laid-back tracks, such as “West End Sky,” featuring a banjo and a reserved drum beat. An acoustic guitar and a harmonica are also present on the album, giving it an old-time feel.

“If I Get Old,” the third track, catches the listener up in its moderate swinging beat. Dominated by a heavily strummed electric guitar, the song reflects on the passing of time with lyrics such as “if I get old I’m living easy… let the land do what she wants to, leave her wild and overgrown.”

“Northern Air” feels like a step back in time with prominent banjo and harmonica lines adding texture to the harmonies. The simple chorus, consisting only of the words “in that Northern air,” is made interesting by the call and response between the vocals and the harmonica. The only downside to this song might be the fact that while the lyrics are delivered with a roughness of tone that seems all too appropriate given the music’s style, they are difficult to discern.

“Owen Sound,” the ninth track, was possibly my favorite from this album. Its texture is minimal for the most part, featuring rather sparse banjo, drum, and vocal lines, but the melody is catchy, although repetitive. The transition to the following “Their Will” is rather unexpected, as it begins once again with heavy electric guitar and a driving rock beat. This album seems to thrive on such differences, though, and even the “heavier” tracks such as “Their Will” are not overpowering but rather seem to draw a listener’s attention.