Old Growth, the new album by Dead Meadow, is released next week on Matador. Here’s a couple new tracks for you to check out. It seems that a lot of the acid-dipped stoner metal of their earlier stuff has given way to a mellow campfire vibe. Amber instead of silver. This is a good thing, because Dead Meadow have become better songwriters and musicians, and the laid-back approach allows these elements to shine.

MP3:
Dead Meadow - What Needs Must Be

Upon first listen, my initial reaction to this advance single was pretty blase. It’s a conventional chord structure and a relatively plodding beat. The melody doesn’t really arc in any particular direction. But then the guitar solo comes in. Now, I don’t know if it’s still fashionable to put guitar solos in songs anymore; I suspect it isn’t. But when you come across a good one, ooh boy howdy. After a couple listens, I began to love every second of this song. It took me a while to fully appreciate it, which doesn’t really make sense because there’s nothing particularly challenging about the song. But perhaps it takes a small adjustment period to sidle into the groove that they’ve created.

MP3:
Dead Meadow - I’m Gone

This one also initially seems fairly generic. This is only the second time I’ve listened to it, so it may well be a grower also. Hence the album title? It’s pretty much your standard “I’ll fuck you tonight and hit the road in the morning” kind of song. There’s a nice turn of the chord towards the end of each verse, and another guitar solo (which doesn’t play off the rest of the band as well as the one in “What Needs Must Be”). Still, enjoyable enough for me to really be looking forward to the new album.