Flashback CD Review #132 - Peal - Beautiful Baby Elephant

This review originally appeared in the Reviews In Brief section of Rock Is Life.com

2020 Update - I listened to this album just last week and I still think it is a fantastic album.

PEAL
Beautiful Baby Elephant
Self-Released 2006

The acoustic powered rock from Peal certainly is a
breath of fresh air from a crowded field of modern day
rockers. While it might be easier to dismiss the band as
a lighter version cousin of bands like Nickelback and the
like, you’d be doing them and yourself a great
disservice.

The smooth direct vocal delivery from Tim Wilsbach
dovetails nicely with the guitar work from Jeff Libey.
Wilsbach’s lyrics are a cut above the standard. In
reading the promo press included with the review copy,
I made note of their influences.

While I hear a bit of each cited group (U2, Toad the Wet
Sprocket, etc.) I also thought of Toto for a minute or
two. This is because there doesn’t seem to be a note on
the album that isn’t designed to get the song to
wherever it’s going. On songs like “Maria” I also was
reminded of the duo Billy Pilgrim. The album features 11
songs, including the “hidden” track “Lines”, and each
one is a keeper. You’ve got a good combination of music
and words here. They don’t get fancy and extend songs
for the sake of extending them, but it works. A nice
piece of work from Peal!

4 out of 5