When acclaimed poet and former Tim Buckley collaborator Larry Beckett first offered Chris Slusarenko and John Moen of Eyelids to write new lyrics for their next record as well as giving them access to his words from the last four decades, the musicians weren’t sure whether Eyelids soaring brand of guitar driven rock would jibe with someone else’s lyrics (including a song that was written with Buckley). “It was Larry’s trust in us that really caused us to think we should do it,” Moen says. “When someone like that is into your work to the degree they want to collaborate, it definitely feeds your confidence.”
On The Accidental Falls Portland, Oregon’s Eyelids step firmly out from the considerable shadow cast by the band members’ second-to-none pedigrees earned from time spent in Guided By Voices, The Decemberists, Stephen Malkmus and Elliott Smith’s bands. Produced by REM iconoclast Peter Buck who also plays on the record with Tucker Martine (Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Neko Case) and Heba Kadry (Deerhunter, Bjork) who mixed and mastered the record respectively.
The Accidental Falls features a bountiful cacophony of gorgeously shimmering riffs and songs so delectably crafted that all who value the electric guitar (three to be exact) as a source of pure joy. Created with long time members, Jonathan Drews (guitar), Jim Taltstra (bass) and Paulie Pulvirenti (drums), Eyelids’ fourth album finds the outfit as both stewards of a classic sound (Alex Chiltonites and disciples of early REM or later XTC will fall hard for this project) and accomplished artists propelling their craft to thrilling new heights. Their first record was released in the UK by Tim Burgess and the band toured the UK previously with their friends, Drive-By Truckers.
As they typically write the music first and add lyrics later, Beckett’s compositions allowed Eyelids to focus on the music and the result is stunning. Already the band’s trademark, the delectably shimmering guitar playing on The Accidental Falls is utterly spellbinding and deeply imbued with joyous emotion—rock n’ roll as catharsis.
