Review: Deer Tick, The Black Dirt Sessions

Deer Tick
The Black Dirt Sessions
A-

As Deer Tick’s frontman, John McCauley, says on the band’s no-frills website “We like to put on memorable shows, the kind of shows that you don't see very often. If you don't want to get covered in beer or confetti at one of our shows, I'd suggest not standing up in the front.”

Rhode Island’s contribution to the budding alt-country genre, Deer Tick, came to my attention a year ago when I heard “Easy” on Seattle’s KEXP radio, and from that point on I had to have more. More raucous southern rock-inspired guitar riffs. More gritty vocals and Let-me-tell-you-about-having-the-Blues lyrics. More music that didn’t sound like it was made for listeners aged 15-22 but instead by a young band that appreciates older, great musicians like John Prine, Hank Williams, and Chuck Berry.

When I saw them in concert last fall at the Black Cat, I loved hearing all my favorite tracks from the first LP, War Elephant, and the following LP, Born on Flag Day. Still, their wild, rock & roll performance complete with a few forgotten verses and sloppy stage presence after a few too many drinks had me worried the band wouldn’t make it to album 3 for one reason or another.

I’m happy to say they made it. Oh, they made it. With a packed tour schedule and a more emotionally complex and well-produced, well-written album to show for it. The main change I see on The Black Dirt Sessions (named for the New York Studio where the band recorded) is that a majority of the songs are more overtly sad or bitter in sentiment compared to previous albums. Tracks like “Goodbye, Dear Friend” and the duet “Sad Sun” are perfect examples and the former is one of the few on this album featuring McCauley playing slow tempo, melodious piano and it pairs nicely with his rough and raw voice. They’re great songs and very sincere, but I preferred some of the more fun tracks from earlier albums.

The songs I like best on this album are the few up-tempo ones. What can I say? I like music that makes me want to dance. The track, “Mange,” begs to be used in some kick-ass movie ending. It’s definitely my favorite off this album with lots of attitude and many more instruments and layers than their earlier stuff. Sometimes when you see bands bringing in a whole bunch of “new sounds” it ends up sounding sloppy and overdone, but I think Deer Tick really shines on the tracks where they’ve taken some risks. “Twenty Miles” also stands out with an infectious beat and bass-line that makes you want to tap along.

The album ends with a new version of “Christ Jesus” from War Elephant. On that first album, it was my absolute least favorite track. This time, it’s one of the strongest songs – raw, more emotional, and pleading rather than angry shouting with a string section and piano changing the tone entirely. To me, ending with this song is a symbol of how the band will always carry the same spirit, but it also says, “Don’t pigeon-hole us (coughcough*Pitchfork*coughcough), we can grow and change and still rock you silly.” I have high hopes for Deer Tick and plan to see them live again soon… but maybe I’ll skip the Jack Daniels shower in the front row this time.

Recommended Tracks: “Mange,” “Twenty Miles,” “I Will Not Be Myself”

(I highly recommend “Baltimore Blues No. 1” and “Art Isn’t Real” from War Elephant if you’re thirsty for more Deer Tick.)

-- Britt Shaw

Review: River City Extension, ...And the Unmistakable Man

 River City Extension

  … And the Unmistakable Man

B+

Best Tracks: 2 (“Friends and Family”), 3 (“Something Salty, Something Sweet”), and 5 (“Our New Intelligence”)

With the recent shift in weather to sunnier days and summer approaching, I’ve been listening to a lot more country inspired roots rock and folk – always puts me in a good mood.  River City Extension is an up and coming band making music in that same vein of roots/folk rock but with their own special twist.  That twist is the welcome addition of a prominent horn section in many tracks and a lot more variety than you would find on most albums of this style.  With a few exceptions, … And the Unmistakable Man runs its full 54 minutes at the same upbeat tempo and even the slower, more serious songs weave in and out of belted out choruses and faster paced instrumentals. 

This album is a really fun summertime listen and I get the feeling that this band would put on a great live show with lots of dancing!  “Something Salty, Something Sweet” is the kind of song that could make everybody at a backyard barbeque jump up and dance in a round… I mean you know, if you lived in a Feist music video.  On the bar ballad, “Too Tired To Drink,” River City Expansion shows its more rough around the edges, raucous side – and it sounds great. Those who like Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons, or Tallest Man on Earth should definitely check out River City Extension for a more fun, upbeat take on the re-popularized alt-Americana style.

-- Britt Shaw

Host, "Under the Influence," Fridays 10-12 AM on WGTB

Review: She & Him, Volume Two

She & Him

Volume 2

A-

           

            This might just be the sunniest sounding set of sad songs I’ve ever laid ears on.  She & Him’s second album, appropriately titled, Version 2, stands apart from their debut album as a much more coherent, fluid collection of songs written almost entirely by actress and artist, Zooey Deschanel.  For those new to the duo, She & Him is the collaboration between acclaimed indie singer and songwriter M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel, recognized for her roles in quirky romantic films like “500 Days of Summer.”  But enough of that Hollywood business!  As the lead vocalist and songwriter of this retro-pop duo, Deschanel’s voice outshines her actress reputation and surprises doubters of her talent as a vocalist, prompting comparisons to the musical stylings of female singers from Peggy Lee to Tammy Wynette. The mix of M. Ward’s intoxicating melodies and occasional vocals combined with Deschanel’s voice and lyrics makes for a stripped down 60’s pop and country inspired collection of sweet, catchy songs.

The themes in this album are certainly more somber than those on the debut, filled with songs recounting heartbreak and tales of out-of-synch lovers, but you would never know it from the sound of it.  The second track on Version 2, “In The Sun” pretty well sums up the idea behind this paradox of upbeat, happy melodies paired with sad lyrics.  Though Deschanel may be writing about love lost, as she says, “I’ll just keep it to myself in the sun.”  This theme runs throughout the album, making it a little repetitive both because of the song material and because of the fact that every song ends with at least a full minute of repeated refrain.  This repetition, however, is my only solid complaint, and besides that, She & Him have conspired to create a very enjoyable album far exceeding expectations and much more fluid than Version 1. (more after the jump)

Review: The Films, Oh, Scorpio

The Films

Oh, Scorpio

B+ / A -

Oh Scorpio is only the second full-length album released by The Films, but even as a relatively new band they have managed to pull off a polished album with a consistent musical style and some really well written, catchy songs.  The tracks off this album have a 50s American rock style, with several tracks sampling in pep-squad style clapping and sha-na-na –ing.  Their strong point is definitely in well-written lyrics which make up for the less original sound of the album as a whole. I certainly would not call this a sophomore slump album, though I prefer the faster paced, more urban rock & roll sound of their first full album, Don’t Dance Rattlesnake, which sounded more “Arctic Monkeys.”  This album could more accurately be compared to the sounds of French Kicks, Hot Hot Heat, or Butch Walker (the album’s producer). 
Best Tracks: “Completely Replaceable”(1), “Fingernails for Breakfast”(3), “Me + the Thief”(9)

-- Britt Shaw
Host, "Under the Influence," Fridays 10-12 AM on WGTB

Check out The Films as our Artist of the Week and grab an mp3 of their song "Completely Replaceable" here!

Review: Vulture Whale, Bamboo You

Vulture Whale 

Bamboo You EP

C

Best Tracks:  “Amerikerr” (5) and “The Pipe” (3)

This new EP from Birmingham, Alabama native band Vulture Whale delivers the same guitar dominated harder rock, but could hardly be called Southern rock in flavor.  Instead this set of tracks gives me the impression that Vulture Whale is directing itself towards a much more 70s/80s British twisted punk/pop rock sound (think The Clash meets The Smiths or a stripped down Joy Division).  I chose Amerikerr and The Pipe as the best tracks on this album for their grittier rock sound and good composition. However, I probably should say they’re the only songs I can actually listen to in their entirety without cringing at the atrociously fake and whiny British accent that lead singer, Wes McDonald, puts on for the other tracks on this album.

-- Britt Shaw

Host, "Under the Influence," Fridays 10-12 AM on WGTB