Music Reviews

The Cactus Blossoms Branch Out on 'Easy Way'

The duo carves out their own unique sound on Easy Way.

Brothers, Page Burkam and Jack Torrey, better known as The Cactus Blossoms, released their new album, Easy Way, earlier this month.

An infectious blend of classic country, indie, and some good ol' fashioned rock and roll, this 10-track sophomore effort is a breezy and pleasant ride filled with rich harmonies, effortless melodies, and smooth mixing.

The album is a short but concise listen, clocking in at around 30 minutes from start to finish. For how short it is, it feels surprisingly whole. No song feels out of place or unnecessary. From the upbeat opening track, "Desperado," a love song from the perspective of a rambling man who has finally found his rock, to the album's closer, "Blue as the Ocean," a simple country-laden ballad, Easy Way brings the listener on a sonically complete and musically satisfying journey in just 10 short songs.

With assistance from Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys (who co-wrote two songs), Michael Lewis of Bon Iver, and Andrew Bird on the sax, Cactus Blossoms have found a bigger, bolder, and more complexly layered sound on Easy Way than the sparser, more folk-oriented arrangements of their 2016 debut, You're Dreaming.

Not only does this album give us a more evolved sound from the brothers, but it also broadens the duo's musical horizons as well. Fans who fell in love with The Cactus Blossoms for their country sensibilities will still find much to love about Easy Way, but fans of indie and rock will also want to give this a listen. The Cactus Blossoms are branching out on Easy Way, and it has resulted in a new and original sound that is all their own.

Easy Way



Dustin DiPaulo is a writer and musician from Rochester, New York. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Florida Atlantic University and can most likely be found at a local concert, dive bar, or comedy club (if he's not getting lost somewhere in the woods).


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