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Review:
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A few years ago i picked up My Beautiful
SInking Ship, a previous Devics album. There was tremendous
potential hinted at in that album, but the potential was never
quite met. A simple analogy i used to describe the band to others
at that time was "A less realized Jody Grind", drawing a similarity
between the voicework of Sara Lov and that of Kelly Hogan, back
when Kelly cared to really sing. Overall, though, the music
never really jelled. Oh sure, there were beautiful moments,
but everything seemed messy, unfocused. It's as if, perhaps,
there was too much talent going on.
Well, Devics are now stripped down to just two members: multi-instrumentalist
Dustin O'Halloran and vocalist Sara Lov. The results are, quite
simply, stunning. The new Devics incarnation have finally suceeded
in creating the sultry slow pop masterpiece that their previous
work hinted at.
The music on The Stars at St. Andrea blends pop
and jazz and a hint of western into a simmering blend. Lov really
shines, using her voice to full effect, from husky and deep
to light and delicate. O'Halloran, apparently, never needed
any other musicians, since it appears that he did everything
on the album except sing the female lead. The music is light,
never too complicated, but very appropriate for the delicate
song structures. No one element stnads out really, although
at times the voice is obviously front and center, while at other
times it is the slide guitar, or the bass, or the piano. Rhythm
tends to be a steady by light high-hat heavy beat, like the
drumming i associate with late jazz.
An obvious reference point is Lone Justice. Lov is a vocalist
on par with Maria McKee, and there is a certain "desertness"
to the music of both bands. However, while Lone Justice are
deep texas desert, Devics are an LA band -- there desert id
the crowded Southern California inlands. That's where the light
West Coast Jazz feel comes in.
There are so many great songs on this album that it is hard
to know where to start. Well, the album does lead off with Red
Morning, which i went over when i reviewed the 7". This
tune proved to be one of my favorites of 2003.
I have already reviewed the first single off of this album,
Red Morning. That's just a wonderful song, and it is
also the lead off to this album.
Don't Take It Away continues the sultry slow feel of
Red Morning, only adding a really, really catchy chorus.
I especially like the way that, if you pay attention to it,
the hi-hat hit is very slightly IDMed. I guess the ultr-modern
production is shoing through here. Even so, it really adds a
little extra something to this tune. Additionally, Lov sounds
extremely sexy here, her voice thick and husky....
The electronic nature of the production also shows through
in The End and the Beginning. In general this is a slow
and lovely song, with chugging electronically distorted rhythm
and piano.
In contrast is the darker work fo Devics. My True Love
is a big dark song, it is the fusion of Western and Goth that
Atlanta-band Myssouri has been striving for all of these years.
Perhaps Mr. Bradley should consider hiring a female vocalist?
It really works for Devics on this song.
However, the goth thing doesn't really work all of the time.
The album's one mis-step is the overly precious Connected
by a String. Lov's voice here is massively distorted, as
if the vocals are a recording from a movie from the 1930's --
one of the first "talkies", all scratchy and with distorted
treble. Combine this with the tinkling piano and the eerie guitar
and the whole thing just seems overdone. It tries to hard to
be dark and mysterious. In fact, this is the one tune on this
album that reminds me directly of Devics work on My Beautiful
Sinking Ship.
But that's really it for weak spots. Otherwise this is a good,
solid album. Devics have really created something wonderful
here. If you enjoy pop music, i urge you to find a copy. |
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