Review
Gregory Alan Isakov's 'Evening Machines' is a musical journey that transported me to a serene, twilight world. As I listened, I felt like I was sitting on a porch swing, watching the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of deep purple and orange. The album's creation in a converted barn on Isakov's Colorado farm seeps into every note, imbuing the songs with a rustic charm that's hard to resist.
I found myself completely drawn in by Isakov's masterful use of space and silence. In tracks like 'Was I Just Another One' and 'Dark, Dark, Dark', the minimal arrangements left room for his lyrics to breathe, each word hanging in the air like mist over a quiet field. The foot-stomping melody in 'Dark, Dark, Dark' caught me off guard, a moment of energy amidst the album's overall contemplative mood that had me tapping my feet despite the somber tone.
While each song on 'Evening Machines' stands beautifully on its own, I did find myself wishing for a stronger thread to tie them all together. But perhaps that's the point - like evenings themselves, each track is its own moment in time, to be savored individually. The more fully orchestrated 'Caves' reminded me of bands like The National, yet still maintained that bittersweet, calming quality that defines the album. As I listened, I couldn't help but feel a connection to Isakov's experiences as a farmer, his music a testament to the quiet beauty found in a life lived close to the land. - Lexi
