Califone villagers Pasadena '77 George Jones

George Jones

and actually joined as a member of the band in 1997

lounge-y sax-rap of “Whateva U Do” cools things down and smooths things out with its flute wrapping around a sample of Smokey Robinson’s “So In Love” and some oh-so-classy lounge-piano tinkling

two feet skipping into shoes and out the door

Califone villagers Pasadena '77 George JonesPart experimental indie and part 70s soft rock, Califones first record in three years finds creative force Tim Rutili reaching new levels of harmony, fragility, and confidence. Whether detailing aging goths retaining their identity through year long spooky decorations (Halloween), an imagined conversation with an inbred monarch (Habsburg Jaw), or the conflicts between identity and technology (Ox Eye), Villagers nine tracks spread out and luxuriates in