I honestly did not think that Jeremy Chatelain was still active as Cub Country seeing as how it has been some time since his last record, Stay Poor, Stay Happy back in 2004. But here we have Stretch That Skull Cover and Smile as proof that Cub Country is still alive and kicking. Cub Country is the alt-country project of Chatelain (ex Jets to Brazil, ex Helmet, ex Handsome, etc) that includes various musicians that he recruits to help him out on the records; some past Cub Country collaborators include: Blake Schwarzenbach (Jets to Brazil, Jawbreaker), Cache Tolman (Rival Schools, Iceburn), Chris Traynor (Orange 9MM, Helmet, Institute) and Theo Kogan (Lunachicks, Theo and the Skyscrapers) amongst others.
Ah, but I do have to say that this is more like it; Stretch That Skull Cover and Smile sounds pretty damn good, and I just do not remember Cub Country having such great hooks ("On Yer Own" simply is classic) in the songs but thankfully for my ears voila. The mellow alt-country stylings of the album are stronger for some songs on the album, but Cub Country does mix it up well including a great smooth and mellow batch of songs to kick up one's feet and enjoy the beverage of your choice. The background vocals that are heard throughout the songs are truly top notch and enhance the compositions just right; the music is well crafted with a variety of instrumentation, including my Achilles heal the lap pedal steel guitar. "After the Song's Been Sung," "On Yer Own," "Smith-Level," and "The Stars Drip Down" are all ear catchers that keep pulling me back to Stretch That Skull Cover and Smile if only to just hear these songs that brighten the mood; Chatelain's voice fits this music very well with his warm quality and relaxing delivery.
Stretch That Skull Cover And Smile contains an impressive amount of smooth indie rock and alt-country sounds, and I think it is an excellent step in the progression of Cub Country incorporating new compositional techniques and incorporating them with the solid foundation that is heard on the other records. As a possible reference point, think Wilco (lazily) or Jets To Brazil's Four Cornered Night while cranking up the alt-country leanings that subtly runs through that record and put Jeremy Chatelain on lead vocals. This will give you some idea of a sound, though that is not an exact comparison as the two albums are not exactly alike. In any case, hopefully, this is a signal that Cub Country will see more activity; but even if it turns out to be business as usual for Chatelain and his cohorts, Stretch That Skull Cover and Smile is a good record.
