Cheyenne

It’s hard to get a handle on Cheyenne’s sophomore CD, but that’s not a bad thing. After some opening turbulence, the band turns charming and chatty with the title track, driving and determined on “Broken English,” wistful and reflective on “Cimarron River” and “The Curtain.” They’re all infectious songs bearing a somewhat surreptitious perspective.

The main constant in the band’s MO is singer/stalwart Beau Jennings, whose woozy yet knowing delivery occasionally recalls Ray Davies. They’re alternative in attitude only, with offerings like “Big Weather,” “Painting Horses” and “This Is the Fashion” displaying a predilection for both subtlety and sparkle. The gradual spiral of the melodies offers the impression these tunes sink in best after repeated listens, but even initial indications find Cheyenne an eminently intriguing bunch.

- Performing Songwriter

With its melancholic mood and tasteful (if not somewhat restrained) performances, Cheyenne's full-length debut was a quiet affair, faring much better as bedroom background music than something to be blasted from car stereos. In the two years that followed, however, frontman Beau Jennings re-thought his approach, eventually deciding to relocate to Brooklyn from Oklahoma and replace his backing band — once a rotating cast of friends and area musicians — with a permanent lineup. The Whale is Cheyenne's first effort as an actual band; Jennings is still calling most of the shots here, but his songs are tighter, smarter, and altogether better when they're molded and performed by the same group of players. Particularly notable is the addition of guitarist Josh Harper, whose layers of distortion and atmospheric guitar chords add dimension — not to mention a healthy bit of indie cred — to Cheyenne's expanding sound. The title track (arguably the album's highlight) jumpstarts the disc with stomping percussion, a cyclical piano riff, and handclaps, and the rest of The Whale follows suit, sticking closer to an upbeat mix of indie rock and neo-Americana than the lo-fi confessionals of Jennings' past. The move to Brooklyn has clearly done the frontman well; he sounds inspired by his new urban life, the increased activity, the constant goings-on. But for all that Eastern energy, there's still something decidedly Midwestern about Cheyenne. The lyrics brim with pastoral images — blood-red rivers, painted horses, cotton — and tracks like "Cimarron River" are frank, bold-voiced bits of folksy country. Elsewhere, Cheyenne hints at a heavy Tom Petty influence, especially during the chorus of "Big Weather." There's pedal steel here, as well honky tonk piano and twangy, messy harmonies. As a result, The Whale accomplishes exactly what it should, bridging the gap between Jennings' time in the dusty Bible Belt and his subsequent move to hipper and louder environs.
- All Music Guide

If you combine the breathy, deep vocals of Pedro The Lion's David Bazan with the wistfullness of Sufjan Stevens, you might get Cheyenne's Beau Jennings. (Fittingly, I Am Haunted's co producer James Mcallister has worked with both musicians.) Jennings differs by approaching the singer/songwriter sphere from a frontier-Western perspective, addressing themes of spritituality and heartache during times of turmoil.- Magnet Magazine april/may
- Magnet Magazine

Debuts are tricky. Do you go for the rebellious ambition of high art? Do you play it safe with conservative, heartfelft songs written on classic themes? Or do you what Beau Jennings has done, and simply make something personal and stunning, leaving meaning and intent by the wayside?
Cheyenne is Beau Jennings playing with various musicians on various songs, all of them pogiant and refreshingly thought provoking. His influences are varried: he tells stories like Tom Waits, ask questions like Bob Dylan and sings like Jeff Tweedy. But Jennings is better then the sum of his parts, and Cheyenne has just raised the bar for musicians and audiences alike in 2005.
- Fran Magazine Issue # 9
- Fran Magazine

The term “sneaker folk” referenced in Cheyenne’s press sheet couldn’t have said it better. I Am Haunted, I Am Alive is casual, comfortable, and unimposing, much like the Trespassers William disc I recently panned. Cheyenne headman Beau Jennings’ story songs (many of which dip into antiquated themes like the Civil War) do have their own charm though, even if they usually lack the urgency or heart of the kind of folk that really sticks.

When Jennings does succeed, he hits hard. “I Learned About Drugs From a Textbook” follows with the lines “I learned about love from a class I took / I learned about you all right / I learned I should be getting out at night,” going on to outline other rattling admissions over a twisted pop piano line. But “Boats and Black Waves,” a rolling tale of resigned escape, is the album’s real gem. Jennings delivers the million-dollar line “And then I called up an old lover from a roadside telephone and said I was on my way to Mexico. She told me I was crazy and to never call again. I said ‘thank you, lover. That’s all I need to know,’” with a hint of Conor Oberst’s quaver. But on this tune, at least, Jennings exhibits a talent for storytelling closer to Dylan’s than the new neo-Dylan Oberst or anything else I’ve heard in a long time. It’s a shame his compelling moments are so fleeting, but perhaps they’re at least a sign of good things to come.

- transformonline.com

As a kid, one afternoon I was hanging out somewhere around the monkey-bars at recess. Eyes wide and innocent, I dreaded an afternoon filled with addition and subtraction. This particular afternoon sticks with me for two reasons. One, because it was the first time, and come to think of it, the only time I was kicked in the nuts. It was by a girl mind you. And secondly, because a girl named Cheyenne came to my rescue. I thought she was the coolest, mostly because she was from California. I was a small town kid, so the closest I had ever been to California was “Saved by the Bell.” Since then, any mention of the Wyoming state capital (Cheyenne…I hope you know that) brings me back to that specific moment in time. I believe it’s called textuality. I learned that in my communications class. Needless to say I have certain and even lofty expectations when I hear of a band of the same name.


Beau Jennings, lead vocalist guitarist and songwriter for Cheyenne, sure does not disappoint. His ability to make accessible countrified pop is authentic, with or without the slick production; although the production on I Am Haunted, I Am Alive is damn near flawless. The tender plucking of the banjo in gallant arrangement with synth-pop makes this record far more progressive than you might expect. Well placed harmonies that harkens back to Brian Wilson era Beach Boys and Pedro the Lion are strewn throughout. Maybe not surprisingly, the album was produced by James McAllister (Sufjan Stevens, Ester Drang, Pedro The Lion) and Chad Copelin (Lyndsay Diaries, New Amsterdams). Sure, Cheyenne may get filed somewhere between Sufjan Stevens and Rhett Miller, but honestly that’s not a bad place to be.


Jennings, 25, has actually been around for a while. Former endeavors include alt-country group Lasso, Deep Elm Records’ Lewis and Circle of Birds with members of Ester Drang. Cheyenne originally consisted of a lineup not necessarily set in stone. However, for I Am Haunted and more recent tours the band was rounded out by a talented group of musicians; Ryan Lindsey, Ben King, Brian Brewer and Heath Fisher.


The Norman, Oklahoma group certainly has a Midwestern soul. The album is steady in character, with lyrics following a lingering lament whether through stories of love or war. Parallels between the two are equally powerful and empathetic. Whether accompanied by the lap-steel, piano, banjo, harmonica, or the organ, Jennings seems to find the perfect compliment to his deftly descriptive and often clever musings. “Say the Answer Shortly” highlights some of the most poignant songwriting on the record. “So say the answer slowly/ Say it if you know/ Why it took thirty-eight chapters for the Lord to answer Job,” sings Jennings as the song concludes. Well let’s see, Conor has Nebraska, Sufjan has Michigan, maybe Jennings has Oklahoma? Okay, maybe not yet. Let’s just say that he’s off to a good start.


For me, the closest comparison to a swift kick to the mid-section might be the pain of a broken heart. In matters of the heart, we all have to be rescued sometimes; whether it be through kind words, a kind shoulder, or a kind heart. Now we can all have Cheyenne.

- silencemagazine.net

Cool, flowing, subdued, soft pop with haunting qualities. Cheyenne is Beau Jennings (guitar, vocals), Ryan Lindsey (piano, vocals), Brian Brewer (guitar, lap steel), Ben King (bass), and Heath Fisher (drums). Some folks may remember Jennings' name from other bands he was in previously (Lewis, Lasso, Circle of Birds). Beginning with the lovely "You Were the Sound," the gentlemen in the band immediately set the stage for what is indeed a lovely introspective pop album. The tunes are laidback and thoughtful and feature some wonderfully satisfying melodies. The vocals are exceptional throughout. Other outstanding tracks include "I Learned About Drugs From a Textbook," "Anymore," and "Believe and Escape." Produced to perfection, I Am Haunted, I Am Alive is certain to sound great decades from now... - babysue.com

Beau Jennings and company gone and given us one beautiful album with I am Haunted, I am Alive, one rife with gorgeous phantom pains in songs such as “You Were The Sound,” “Houses” and “Anymore.” No doubt some will draw comparisons between Jennings and Gram Parsons (or even early Jackson Browne) and while that’s not surprising or out of place, the young man has plenty to offer all on his own - including a few jolts of humor such as in “Say The Answer Shortly” (“So say the answer slowly/Say it if you know/Why it took thirty-eight chapters for the Lord to answer Job”) or even in the breakup anthem “Like Soldiers In The Civil War.” Once this album starts working its charms - and it’s really only a matter of seconds before that happens - it’s harder than hell to get it out of your CD player. - copperpress.com

As a kid, one afternoon I was hanging out somewhere around the monkey-bars at recess. Eyes wide and innocent, I dreaded an afternoon filled with addition and subtraction. This particular afternoon sticks with me for two reasons. One, because it was the first time, and come to think of it, the only time I was kicked in the nuts. It was by a girl mind you. And secondly, because a girl named Cheyenne came to my rescue. I thought she was the coolest, mostly because she was from California. I was a small town kid, so the closest I had ever been to California was “Saved by the Bell.” Since then, any mention of the Wyoming state capital (Cheyenne…I hope you know that) brings me back to that specific moment in time. I believe it’s called textuality. I learned that in my communications class. Needless to say I have certain and even lofty expectations when I hear of a band of the same name.


Beau Jennings, lead vocalist guitarist and songwriter for Cheyenne, sure does not disappoint. His ability to make accessible countrified pop is authentic, with or without the slick production; although the production on I Am Haunted, I Am Alive is damn near flawless. The tender plucking of the banjo in gallant arrangement with synth-pop makes this record far more progressive than you might expect. Well placed harmonies that harkens back to Brian Wilson era Beach Boys and Pedro the Lion are strewn throughout. Maybe not surprisingly, the album was produced by James McAllister (Sufjan Stevens, Ester Drang, Pedro The Lion) and Chad Copelin (Lyndsay Diaries, New Amsterdams). Sure, Cheyenne may get filed somewhere between Sufjan Stevens and Rhett Miller, but honestly that’s not a bad place to be.


Jennings, 25, has actually been around for a while. Former endeavors include alt-country group Lasso, Deep Elm Records’ Lewis and Circle of Birds with members of Ester Drang. Cheyenne originally consisted of a lineup not necessarily set in stone. However, for I Am Haunted and more recent tours the band was rounded out by a talented group of musicians; Ryan Lindsey, Ben King, Brian Brewer and Heath Fisher.


The Norman, Oklahoma group certainly has a Midwestern soul. The album is steady in character, with lyrics following a lingering lament whether through stories of love or war. Parallels between the two are equally powerful and empathetic. Whether accompanied by the lap-steel, piano, banjo, harmonica, or the organ, Jennings seems to find the perfect compliment to his deftly descriptive and often clever musings. “Say the Answer Shortly” highlights some of the most poignant songwriting on the record. “So say the answer slowly/ Say it if you know/ Why it took thirty-eight chapters for the Lord to answer Job,” sings Jennings as the song concludes. Well let’s see, Conor has Nebraska, Sufjan has Michigan, maybe Jennings has Oklahoma? Okay, maybe not yet. Let’s just say that he’s off to a good start.


For me, the closest comparison to a swift kick to the mid-section might be the pain of a broken heart. In matters of the heart, we all have to be rescued sometimes; whether it be through kind words, a kind shoulder, or a kind heart. Now we can all have Cheyenne.

- silencemagazine.net