North Hills (album)
North Hills is the debut studio album by American folk-rock band Dawes, released on August 18, 2009.
| North Hills | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 18, 2009 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Length | 54:56 | |||
| Label | ATO | |||
| Producer | Jonathan Wilson | |||
| Dawes chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reviews
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AbsolutePunk | 93%[1] |
| Allmusic |    [2] |
| The Austin Chronicle | [3] |
| Filter | 82%[4] |
| The Line of Best Fit | [5] |
| PopMatters | 6/10[6] |
| Stereo Subversion | B+[7] |
| This Is Fake DIY | 7/10[8] |
North Hills received mostly favorable reviews from the music critics. AbsolutePunk's Gregory Robson said the album "is the sound of something truly astonishing beginning to take shape" with "near-flawless roots-rock offerings that drip with such a defined sense of soul, grit and harmony, it feels nearly criminal to label this album contemporary."[1] Pemberton Roach called them a "rootsy quartet" with a "tasteful vibe", and an "earthy sound."[2] At Filter, Kyle MacKinnel described the album as "straightforward" and a "refreshing reminder of our roots" that "notches a victory for the believers."[4] The Line of Best Fit's Melanie McGovern predicted the release would "be as easily digested and perhaps more soul baring as one would hope."[5]
Stereo Subversion's Dan MacIntosh wrote that "where ever this North Hills hideaway is, it sure sounds like the place to be for those in search of a quality music retreat."[7] At This Is Fake DIY, Martyn Young said the album was "full of subtle wonder, and in its evocative charms you can easily see how Dawes have become so feted".[8] However, Doug Freeman of The Austin Chronicle derided the album saying that "working a sound this classic doesn't allow for many surprises".[3] A PopMatters review said the album's sound was "too obvious in its attempt to fit into a certain mold", and called the effort "a last-ditch effort to hop on a bandwagon".[6]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Taylor Goldsmith, except where noted
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "That Western Skyline" | 5:58 |
| 2. | "Love Is All I Am" | 5:16 |
| 3. | "When You Call My Name" | 4:44 |
| 4. | "Give Me Time" | 3:18 |
| 5. | "When My Time Comes" | 5:08 |
| 6. | "God Rest My Soul" | 4:58 |
| 7. | "Bedside Manner" | 4:11 |
| 8. | "My Girl to Me" | 4:51 |
| 9. | "Take Me Out of the City" | 5:11 |
| 10. | "If You Let Me Be Your Anchor" | 4:25 |
| 11. | "Peace in the Valley" (Goldsmith, Blake Mills) | 6:56 |
| Total length: | 54:56 | |
Personnel
- Dawes
- Taylor Goldsmith – lead vocals, guitars
- Griffin Goldsmith – drums, vocals, percussion
- Wylie Gelber – bass guitar
- Tay Strathairn – piano, vocals, organ
- Patrick Sansone - guitars, vocals, organ, percussion
Charts
The album peaked at #23 on the Billboard Heatseeker chart.[9]
References
- Robson, Gregory (September 10, 2009). "Dawes - North Hills". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- Roach, Pemberton (September 29, 2009). "North Hills - Dawes : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- Freeman, Doug (March 19, 2010). "Review: Dawes North Hills (ATO)". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- MacKinnel, Kyle (January 28, 2010). "Reviews - Dawes: North Hills - ATO". Filter. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- McGovern, Melanie (June 4, 2012). "Dawes – North Hills". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- Miller, Cody (January 20, 2010). "Dawes: North Hills". PopMatters. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- MacIntosh, Dan (May 28, 2010). "Dawes – North Hills". Stereo Subversion. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- Young, Martyn (June 4, 2012). "Dawes – North Hills". This Is Fake DIY. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- "Album & Song Chart History (Heatseeker Albums)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.