This came out in 2005 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
One band is not enough for Will Johnson.
When the Texas singer-guitarist isn’t rocking out with fuzzy grandeur in Centro-Matic, he likes to take it down a notch and get his freak on with the woozy roots narcolepsy of South San Gabriel (which features all the same members). Their overtitled sophomore set The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until The Operation’s Through is, believe it or not, a concept album about a sick cat. But don’t let that scare you away: The dusty landscapes, multi-textured melodies and drowsy delivery of Johnson and co. are transfixing and beautiful enough to overshadow the potential suckiness of the content. And to make The Carlton Chronicles a successful operation.
