Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Yazoo Beach - The Solace and the Blaze (1988, N-Beat)

Athens, GA was unarguably the mecca for where-it-was-at when it came to "new music" in the Deep South, 80s-wise, but nearby Alabama offered visceral guitar-rock delights like the Primitons and Carnival Season, and Mississippi was home to some fine local fare as well, including Yazoo BeachThe Solace and the Breeze, presumably the debut outing from this Jackson quartet, frequently skews in the vicinity of Let's Active and Buzz of Delight-era Matthew Sweet, particularly on swift, forward thinking numbers like "In a Bright Light," "Waiting for the Woods" and "Chasing the Light."  Peter Buck inspired arpeggios sweeten the pot on these and a couple of other like-minded cuts.  Elsewhere, Solace adopts a considerably more contemplative singer/songwriter tact, and side two is home to an oblique two-song suite ("Missing Ring" & "They Tried So Hard") which doesn't quite mesh with the rest of the record.  Nonetheless Solace's sizable quantity of highlights are not to be missed. 

01. Chasing the HEart
02. In a Bright
03. Images
04. A Rose From Emily
05. Chameleon
06. Who Lives on the Inside
07. Low Cotton
08. Waiting for Woods
09. Big Green Eyes
10. Missing Ring
11. They Tried So Hard
12. Humanity
13. Running Away
14. The Solace and the Blaze

Hear

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you for reviewing this record that I produced and co-wrote many, many years ago. The singer of Yazoo Beach, John Horne, died about five years ago. He would have gotten a huge kick out of reading this and on behalf of John, both of us thank you for remembering our work that was produced almost 30 years ago. John and I went on to write and record five albums, The Solace and the Blaze was our debut. Scott Coopwood

Unknown said...

Thank you for reviewing this record that I produced and co-wrote many, many years ago. The singer of Yazoo Beach, John Horne, died about five years ago. He would have gotten a huge kick out of reading this and on behalf of John, both of us thank you for remembering our work that was produced almost 30 years ago. John and I went on to write and record five albums, The Solace and the Blaze was our debut. Scott Coopwood

David said...

Wow, there are some great songs on this release! What a find, and thank you Spavid for posting, and John for your insightful comment. In case either of you know how I might obtain more Yazoo Beach material, I am all ears. Finding info about the band anywhere online is quite challenging. Thanks again to you both.

Jim H. said...

nice one! tho the band name i have to think threw some people off.......

AJ Smith said...

Not sure how I stumbled upon it but this album sounds intriguing. I don't suppose a re-upload of the album would be possible?

AJ Smith said...

Excellent - thanks very much.

Unknown said...

This is my great uncle! I had such a great time when I was a kid listening to him sing these songs. He was such a huge inspiration to me. I am so glad people still listen to and say great things about this record!! He was a wonderful man! Thank you all so much!!

Unknown said...

Hey Spavid - Any possible chance you have one or more other releases from Yazoo Beach to upload?

spavid said...

Just saw your comment David. Unfortunately this is all I have by them. I saw a couple tapes on Ebay however.

videreestvivere said...

Possible re-up? Pretty please?

D said...

Yazoo Beach...any chance of a re-up?
hope so,
thanks