Western Fifth-Stand Like a Thief
Self Released
November 11, 2008

Western Fifth know how to write a depressing sounding song. Their mix of country twang and light indie sounding vocals make for a good combination for down in the dumps sounding music. The odd thing about the songs on Stand Like a Thief is that, while they sound depressing, they aren't typically sad songs that one would hear from bands like Drag the River or Lucero.

Western Fifth use atmospheric moments in their music to give them a spacey feel (picture if Cave In went country). This is what prevents their songs from being sad, along with the usually slow tempos. Everything seems drawn out, which usually works for an individual song but can make a full album listen drag slightly. There isn't a whole lot of energy present in the songs, which is part of the formula.

I'd describe Western Fifth as indie country. They don't have that gritty alt country sound, instead bringing something a little different to the table. This is a good album, but their use of atmostphere/space and the downtrodden pace of everything make it something that won't be flying into my stereo all the time.

Written by: RF
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