Epic garage rock for fans of The Band, Nick Cave, The Drones, Dylan, My Morning Jacket, Neil Young and Wilco.

Roving Cannibals, a fugitive de facto and a sparrow or two. Talk about a rogue’s gallery. Not to mention lost ghosts, drunken ship captains and an estranged stock broker.

They’re just some of the misfits that inhabit Brown Bird, the new album by Brisbane’s best kept secret MEXICO CITY.

Like Dylan’s Highway 61,The Stooges’ Funhouse or Nick Cave’sAbbattoir Blues, it’s packed with freaks and geeks, the supernatural and the supernal. Heck even Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, gets a shout out.

Coming three years after the release of debut album (2006’s critically applauded Black Comedy), Brown Birdfinds the four-piece simultaneously refining and expanding on the template set down by the previous record.

No surprise given the changes MEXICO CITY have overcome since their last release.

The band said goodbye to longstanding member Mick Elliot, who was eventually replaced by Matt Tanner (GIANTS OF SCIENCE, MARY TREMBLES). They also big farewell to their first record label, to start anew with Brisbane’s Plus One Records (GIN CLUB, BLACKWATER FEVER, TEXAS TEA).

Brown Bird triumphs over these disruptions in thrilling fashion.

From the roaring epic garage rock of openers “Raised an Empire” and “Baby You’ve Changed” to the start, crystalline shiver of “R U Spiritual”, this is a bolder, more confident MEXICO CITY.

The country rock flourished of previous release are, for the most part, relegated to the background as the band instead crank up the amps and deliver a new batch of tunes that crackle with emotion and abandonment. Piano also takes centre stage on a couple of key tracks.

But the more things change, the more they stay the same and Brown Bird is sure to warm the cockles of those who have enjoyed MEXICO CITY’s previous releases. But hey, here’s hoping this bird takes flight and catches the ears and hearts of the deserved wider audience.

MEXICO CITY “Brown Bird” May Tour Dates

Fri 08 – Grace Emily, Adelaide, SA
Sat 09 – East Brunswick Club, VIC
Thu 14 – Hopetoun Hotel, Surry Hills, NSW
Fri 15 – Chilli Lounge, Wyong, NSW
Sat 16 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle, NSW
Sat 23 – Troubador, Brisbane, QLD
Fri 29 – Bon Amici, Toowoomba, QLD