The Skygreen Leopards are a due that formed in California in 2000. The Skygreen Leopards are very similar to bands like Iron & Wine, and Animal Collective. For some reason this band never even got a large fanbase like the other two bands I mentioned above. I guess it's because of the band name? Or maybe because it's the odd cover art of butterflies and liazards? I personally think it's a combination of an odd-music style, and plain out weirdness. Whatever it is this band deserves a lot more praise than it gets. The Skygreen Leopards are a talented duo, and if you are a fan of the two bands I mentioned than you should really give this a try.
Life And Love In Sparrow's Meadow is a hypnotic, eerie, beautiful album. The Skygreen Leopards are a unique band, and do something that only a few other bands can do. This is a soft, gentle album and there are virtually no rock influences what so ever. The first time you listen to this you will probably put this album down and never go near it again. This is such an eerie and hypnotizing record, once you get past the first track it puts you in a trance. I would categorize this as an alt/folk record, possibly the oddest folk record I have ever listened to. Life And Love... can turn you off at first, the melodies are very offbeat and odd-sounding. You will have to give this time to grow on you. At first the melodies will make you cringe, they are very offbeat and bitter. After a few listens it all starts to come together, the hooks will become catchy and you will not be able to put this down once you get into it. While this is possibly one of the hardest albums to get into, it is very rewarding once you can.
The instruments on this album are completely dominated by acoustic guitars. The acoustic guitars play simple melodies, the two acoustics combine to make a very interesting and odd sound. Sometimes the guitars clash together to make an offbeat sound, it is very unappealing at first. The guitars are very folk influenced, and they make a very somber and gentle sound to create a melancholy feel. The guitars are dreamy and gentle. The sound of the guitars create an ultra hypnotic and dreary feel. This is not your typical folk album. I find this album to be extremely depressing, the songs are just so eerie and dreary that you can't listen to this and be happy. The two acoustics are just about the only two instruments used. Simple riffs and melodies are about all the guitars have to offer, but it is enough to create a dreamy, hypnotic, psyachadelic folk album.
The vocals are the icing on the cake. The vocal delivery of the two singers Donovan and Glenn combine to create a wistful and and warm feeling. The double dueling vocals are high-pitched, and good natured. The vocals are very dreamy, just imagine combining the vocals of Kurt Cobain and a little chinese girl. That's the result you get. Even though it sounds unappealing it is actually very soothing and gentle. The vocals is what makes this whole album come together. Without them this would just be a boring, uninspired folk album. Mixing folk influenced acoustic guitars with dreary, gentle vocals combines to create an atmospheric, psychadelic folk album. I realize that this will sound very unappealing and weird at first, but it all comes together after multiple listens.
Overall this is a good, solid folk album with a few flaws. The main problem with Life And Love... is that it is very unaccessible. You can't just pick this album up and listen to it whenever you want. Sometimes the music is just too hard to listen to, everything is so hypnotic and eerie that it can be too much. The other problem is that nothing really seems to change. All of these songs sound very similar, two acoustic guitars are featured in all of these tracks, and The Skygreen Leopards do not try anything new or exciting, it seems like the songs are being recycled over and over again throughout the album. I can't really blame the band, if they changed things up too often than the album would lose all of it's hypnotic and psychadelic edge. I still beleive this is a good album despite of the cons I just listed. I will warn you right now that this is not for everyone. The dreamy vocals and the odd melodies that will make you cringe do not appeal at first. Life & Love... demands your patience, so don't buy this and expect a gem at first listen. The Skygreen Leopards put out one of the oddest folk albums I have ever listened too. This album is a combo of folk, and psychadelica. If you're a fan of those genres than you should considering purchasing this, but I have already warned you, try to listen to some of this before you make a purchase.
Overall Rating : 3/5
Pros: Acoustic Guitars - Hypnotic and Eerie - Perfect music for a rainy day
Cons: Hard to listen to at times - Songs all sound similar
Recommended Tracks :Belle And Woodsman's Autumn Ball - Tents Along The Water - The Supplication Of Fireflies
Members : Donovan Quinn - Glenn Donaldson
