Tag: Christians & Lions

Christians & Lions
More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake
2006

In 2006, Christians & Lions returned with More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake. Sound familiar? It should. It’s the same title as their previous effort, with many of the same songs. The original version was created by the band’s original duo in preparation for a tour. This updated version gets the full band treatment.

The songs are as good as ever. The intimate recordings of the past have given way to fully polished indie folk pop gems. Songs as good as “Bones,” “Longboy,” “Tender Sparks (October & Over)” and “Stay Warm” would sound good sung into one of those micro cassette dictation recorders. The fact that they happen to beautifully recorded by Jack Younger certainly isn’t going to hurt.

While comparisons to The Shins and Iron & Wine are still somewhat relevant, the band branches out this time around. These recordings play up the influence of The Kinks and The Beatles on the band. You can even hear some Jack White in the distorted guitar sounds. It’s hard to pin Christians & Lions down, other than to say they know what they’re doing and they do it well.

Where to get it:

• Bandcamp

Christians & Lions
More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake (Acoustic)
2006

For their first release, Christians & Lions pulled together a loose collection of eclectic folk tunes. More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake (Acoustic) sounds like a mix of Iron & Wine, Cat Stevens, The Kinks and The Shins. There are even a few songs that share an aesthetic with O’Death.

There’s a definite energy to these recordings. They’re intimate. “A Roots Grave Is Above Ground” and “Bones” are heartfelt and touching. “Stay Warm” is a toe tapper. “Free Radio Post Apocalyptic Metropolis Blues” and “Longboy” stomp and howl.

Many of these songs got a fresh treatment on Christians & Lions’ follow up (which happens to go by the same name), but that doesn’t make these inferior versions. The newer versions feature more of a full-band treatment than those presented here, but it winds up being a classic case of different, not better.

Where to get it:

• Bandcamp