The Mag Seven
Cotton Needle Sessions
End Sounds
October 6, 2009

By Kalin Bucholz

When you listen to Cotton Needle Sessions it’s evident that these tracks will bring out a certain mood. The mood is that of a surf bum who has partied too hard the night before and needs to relax.

For the majority of the album the tracks are almost melancholy. Hinting at sadness at times but still retaining an airy feel. The undertones of groove and the reverb of surf music are there and they don’t really become evident until the later half of the album.

The majority of the album makes you feel like a detective walking the streets late at night.  You expect the guitar to pick up at any time but it retains its melodic feel.  I feel as if the band can play more with the variety of the mood but seems content to ride out the feel from the first track. Not until track seven, “Ether Cheeks,” does the guitar and feel of the album seem to gain momentum.  But with only 10 tracks on the album, it seems like the album could use a few more extra tracks to capitalize on the new feel it generates.

The talent is there, but absent are the hooks. I keep listening and expecting the song to pick up but it stays with a certain elevator music feel never captivating your attention. Background music with a practice session feel to it. With that said, I definitely enjoyed the album as background music; it’s a result of all the tracks blending with each other.

Coming in at any point in the album you can get the same feel that the other tracks had. I was a little puzzled with the harder feel of the later tracks as it was a departure from the majority of the album. I feel that these harder tracks took away from the floaty feel of the majority of the album. Anyone who needs to chill out or unwind can benefit from this album and the mood it creates.