Langhorne Slim and The War Eagles - Langhorne Slim and The War Eagles

Genre folk Publisher Kernado Records External Links Langhorne Slim and The War Eagles Website

Langhorne Slim was born Sean Scolnick on August 20, 1980 in Langhorne PA (hence the name). Scolnick's band, called the War Eagles, is made up of Paul Defiglia on Bass and Malachi DeLorenzo on drums. The act began to gain considerable critical attention after the song Electric Love Letter was chosen as an editor's top 5 pick in Rolling Stone magazine. Despite cruising along under the mainstream radar, Slim's newest release, the self titled Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles is a great work that should boost the band's popular appeal.

Sometimes a track can be a minimal 1:54 and still be good and 'Spinning Compass' is exactly this. The cut is everything music of this genre should be. Folk melodies with pop appeal and story like lyrics over comfortable acoustic sounds. 'Rebel Side of Heaven' is a song that is part soul, part folk, and a little indie rock. Scolnick does a great job moving the song with his lyrical gushes and the music comes across as easy and tidy. The song also features a broad use of horns and organ tones with good effect. 'Restless' is more of a prototypical campfire folk song. The cut time and 16th note acoustic guitars keep the pace steady while what sounds to be an upright bass really shines in the background. 'Restless' is an easy listen for anyone. 'Sometimes' is a song about the happenings of arbitrary romance. It's not the best song from Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles, but its certainly not a filler either. One of the finest moments from this record is 'Collette'. It's an epic and soulful declaration that spins around Scolnick's ability to tell a heartfelt story and it's just mushy enough. The song begins slowly before it ventures into something much more animated. The harmonics are a solid symmetry of acoustic guitars, upright bass, drums, and keys.

'Diamonds and Gold' is Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles most well rounded song. Scolnick soulfully exclaims his anthem " you've gotta learn to get happy along the way". The song is performed like a scholarly paper, with a thesis and supporting perspectives. The song is again a brand of easy listening with a little extra grit and dynamic positivism; folk, rock, and blues. 'The Honeymoon' is by far Slim's most rock oriented song. Conversely, 'Tipping Point' is more or less Southern style folk; something you might have heard on your ride through the grassroots. 'Worries' is a lullaby of an anthem that dares you to be in a bad mood. Scolnick sings of life's finer things superseding what would usually bring us worry and he sounds like he means it. "If you got worries then you're like me, don't worry now, I won't desert you". The album concludes with 'Hummingbird'. This is roots/lyrical music at its finest and it concludes the album's upbeat tone with a somber resolution that fades with every word Scolnick sings: "how could anyone settle for anything less?"

Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles self titled 2008 release is one of the best albums of the year from this genre. It sets the kind of bench mark that is difficult to either repeat or exceed whilst establishing the band as remarkable artists. The album is zesty and thoughtful and is an exceptional achievement from a band that many people may not have heard from.