Imagine the heartache as lead singer Marty Crandall was “let go” from The Shins. The uncertainty, anger, and sadness he must have felt. Sea Baby Wolf’s “Best of 2011” begins with Bill Callahan’s “America,” an edgy, alt-Americana song about American imperialism. And like the war in Afghanistan and Crandall’s path, the playlist turns with Braid’s “Plath Heart” brightly closing the door saying “Are we meant to be?” No. The tone shifts. As proscribed in their bio Sea Baby Wolf is in “nascent” form with only a few tracks to their name. Like a child searching for an identity they face the hills of emotion that rise confidently and dip discouragingly. After an aggressive track of guitars, a subdued tone settles in with Kurt Vile’s “Jesus Fever.” The nascent band is maturing, understanding their strengths and limitations, prepared to move forward.
This review was written by David Johnson-Igra, The SF Critic
