Pale Blue Dot "Western Scene" (Independent 2006) Reviewer: Del Day - Americana U.K. Reviewers Rating: 9 out of 10 " A little bit folk, a little bit rock, a little bit country, a little bit not" "East Nashville’s Pale Blue Dot have a links page on their website that includes Badly Drawn Boy, Bill Hicks and David Icke. it’s a strange mix don’t you think? What it has to say about the band or this excellent record is debatable but there is obviously a sub-conscious link there that probably holds the fundamental ‘meaning’ as to what this band are all about. A simpler route would be to buy this record at the first opportunity and just let these fourteen pop nuggets cast their own spell on you. Reference points? Think a stoned-out Neil Young with the wit and deviance of The Kinks. Tracks like “Things That Aren’t Even There” - a riot of “Rainy Day Women #12” proportions in its sharp humour and raggle-taggle approach - and “Married Woman (Heart On Fire)” are essentially folky-pop that is retro in feel yet wouldn't be out of place on, say, Mark Radcliffe. You can’t help think that given the right ‘cool’ label and marketing spend Pale Blue Dot could well be a happening band. The Collins family - Scott, Justin, and Kim - have clearly got the formula just right in creating music that is full to the brim with cute melodies, endless singalong choruses, and a sound that flits between modern day whimsy and rock’s more salubrious past. Inevitably, in all reality, this is the sort of band that will probably release a couple of records, be ‘massive’ in their home town and have about as much a telling impact on the musical world as Blazing Squad. But playing again the anthemic “Ode to Joy” or “New York Crush,” quite simply 2007’s best pop song so far, and the tear jerking closer “Countless Rings” it is clear what a sad loss that would be. A couple blips aside Western Scene is a mighty fine effort indeed and will be on the kitchen play list for many a moon I betcha. " www.palebluedot.org www.myspace.com/pbd