Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

You have to admire someone to whom the thought of resting on laurels is an anathema, the work hard, play harder, sing and perform music with a sense of the absolute in their minds and hearts, to those that play this body assaulting and life inducing diversion from the world, appreciation and respect is given as well as being earned.

It might take Years in which to conquer this particular mountain, in which to see that for all the good a lay in will do, sometimes the result is the habit encroaches into the day, it seeps in and erodes the moments in which the creative muse is awake and fluid, acting out to the invisible and the end, as with all muses, if she is not being fed, being paid constant attention, then she withers and dies.

This scrupulous and specific muse instead thrives on the continuous and the relentless, she might let you sleep, she might insist that at times it is better to have dreams than produce work in which the over thinking becomes intolerable, but for the most part she will consider it time worth spent as the pursuit of a vision is fulfilled.

For Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, the muse breathes heavy, she is fidgeting with excitement,  it has not taken years, just 12 short months in which to continue the good work laid out in Sidelong, and it is with sense of gratitude and that talked of admiration in which Years is seen a blinding positive light

In tracks such as New Ways To Fail, The Bottle Never Lets Me Down, What It Takes, Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don’t and Heartache In Hell,  Sarah Shook & The Disarmers come of the other side of a 12 month seemingly relentless ride with their reputation further enhanced.

This is the muse when she is allowed to continue her work, when she finds herself looked upon with determination, a powerful soul and the need to get their thoughts down on paper, these are the Years in which you have to reflect upon and if means producing one album after another, then who is to complain as long as the content is well maintained and produced with care and attention.

A fruitful year in which Sarah Shook & The Disarmers have come full circle and the muse out for a lengthy spin.

Ian D. Hall