Sailing on Broken Seas

Tonight at World Cafe Live you can catch a performance by two former members of other bands who've joined together to form a mellow, bland, vaguely countrified folk rock outfit. We're talking about Isobel Campbell from Belle & Sebastian and Mark Lanegan from Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age. They're on tour behind their new album Ballad of the Broken Seas, which was released a week ago. Phillyist has to admit we found the disc a bit boring. It certainly has atmosphere - old, whispery, shadowy, smokey atmosphere. And ocassionally it gets a bit menacing, which is interesting. But generally it's all in a low key, and not particularly imaginative; it makes us want to go to sleep, and we prefer music that wakes us up. Like say, just as an example, Queens of the Stone Age. But if you're a big fan of these folks, or you really enjoy somnolent folk rock, then by all means head on down to the World Cafe Live tonight.

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St)
Tonight, 7:30PM, $18
Buy online or call 215-222-1400