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The Literary Greats
Ocean, Meet the Valley
Independent
The Literary Greats' near perfect second album combines loose-limbed roots rock with a pure pop precision. Buoyed by a woozy Hammond organ, swaggering vocals and harmonies that sound like they were influenced as much by The Byrds as they were The Pixies, Ocean, Meet The Valley is one of the year's greatest surprises. The ramshackle stomp of "That Mountain Yonder" is a blast of muscle and soul; "Show Me The Coast" sounds like the best work of Grand Drive and "Happens Every Time" has sneaky, dark rhythms that are positively unforgettable. Later, "The Black Bee" is quietly devastating, "Emily's Enemies" wails away like The Band fronted by Frank Black and "Ocean Waves" is mesmerizing. But the album's finest moment is "Oh Abilene," a sexy blast of horny roots rock that rolls hungrily along. Terrific work.
—Alex Green
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