The follow-up to
Bob's Bacon Barn showcases more of the same strangeness from
Japonize Elephants. The reliance on bluegrass isn't quite as strong, although it's obviously a part of the backbone of the band. Rather, this release finds the band delving more into some romantic European sounds, and working more with the Middle Eastern influence. Although 15 tracks in length, there are a number of those that aren't even filled with music, just more examples of the Elephants' sense of humor. And while the instruments are pretty much the same as on their last album, the saxophone seems to be playing more of a role in the music. As a band,
Japonize Elephants have certainly matured and come together to create a real album that shows a great deal of potential, and far supercedes anything they have done previously. ~ Kurt Morris