★★★★★
In his charmingly frank liner notes, David Lowery (Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker) points out that, though this is his first solo record, it is actually a collaboration between himself and his long-time pals at Virginia's Sound of Music recording studio. Recordingwise, this may be true, but the songs are pure Lowery all the way: droning violins, drawled song-spiel singing, and lyrics that pierce the heart while revealing a slacker's wit...
- www.americansongwriter.com
2013-04-25
★★★★★
Given that David Lowery has been at it since the mid-'80s with his bands Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker, it's somewhat surprising that this is his first solo album. But despite the team player that Lowery is, The Palace Guards showcases his current musical vision in a way that neither of his bands could have done justice to...
- www.undertheradarmag.com
2011-03-07
★★★★★
David Lowery has been making snarky, off-kilter roots music for more than 25 years, first with '80s college-rock pioneers Camper Van Beethoven, then with '90s alt-rock hitmaker Cracker. On his first-ever solo record, The Palace Guards, Lowery sticks with his usual stoner-country sound, skirting jokiness on the loopy title track, and eclipsing it on "I Sold The Arabs The Moon," a wistful confession of life's lies and cons in waltz-time...
- www.avclub.com
2011-02-14