Deer Tick Download Code Giveaway!!

As promised, I've got a few more unused download codes to give away. Up for grabs this week is the newest album from one of the hottest bands in the country. Deer Tick's Born on Flag Day found itself at #4 on my Top 20 Albums of 2009. Read my review.

This time there's no trivia stopping you from giving it a try. Simply click below or on the album cover and enter your email address. Next Wednesday (1/27), I'll pick a random winner and notify them via email with the working download code. Do it.

Click here to enter the Deer Tick Contest
Contest Complete - Congrats Jeanette!

The Lists: Top 20 Albums of 2009 (1-10)

Check out Part I (11-20)

Part II of my Top 20 Albums of 2009

10. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight At The Movies
Bloodshot, 3.3.2009
Justin Townes Earle's second album cemented his star-studded name as star in his own right and won the top spot in the first ever Bird List - by a landslide. Justin, like some of the best out there, has a difficult time translating his live show allure to a studio CD, but Midnight At The Movies does a damn good job trying. His rollicking, 'Hillbilly Music' (tracks like 'Walk Out' and 'John Henry') are where he grabs your attention, but it's the slower, more personal songs ('Mama's Eyes', 'Someday I'll Be Forgiven') that truly separate JTE from other folk-country acts out there.

Justin Townes Earle - They Killed John Henry
[Direct][Vinyl][CD][MP3][eMusic][iTunes]

9. Sea Wolf - White Water, While Bloom
Dangerbird, 9.22.2009
Alex Brown Church and the folks behind him, better known as Sea Wolf, are probably one the most accessible bands I promote here. I have to admit that they had a little advantage making my top 10 due to the fact that I didn't discover their 2007 release Leaves In The River until last year, and wanted to make up for not mentioning it in my inaugural posts. This year with White Water, White Bloom, Sea Wolf continued to make listener-friendly indie-rock paved with inspiring string pieces, powerful rhythm sections, and soaring vocals.

Sea Wolf - Dew In The Grass
[Direct][Vinyl][CD][MP3][iTunes]

8. Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers - Songs In The Night
Ramseur, 4.28.2009
Samantha Crain broke into the folk scene last year with a superb EP. Don't let the fact that her debut full-length was released early this year and the hype surrounding her may have since slowed lead you astray. This is one killer album. Songs In The Night contains very mature writing and even better music created by The Midnight Shivers. It's got a perfect mix of tempos - sing-along folk-rockers, contemplative acoustic ballads, and even a couple electric grooves. If I could pick a poster-band for the sound I want out of my Americana, this is it.

Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers - Devils In Boston
[Direct][CD][MP3][eMusic][iTunes]

7. Middle Distance Runner - The Sun & Earth
Engine Room Recordings, 10.20.2009
Every year so far, I've had at least one album that made my list for one simple reason - it rocks. This year's album that always seems to get my head bobbin' is Middle Distance Runner's The Sun & Earth. I stumbled across the D.C. band earlier this year thanks to a couple mind-numbing singles/EPs they released. I grabbed the full album released in October, delighted to see those tracks on it, and even more thrilled to enjoy the rest of the disc. It's one of those albums that you seem to not remember tracks names simply because it's 45 minutes of pulsating Rock n Roll intertwined with moments of acoustic bliss of that all melds together in you brain - in a good way.

Middle Distance Runner - Round Here
[Direct][CD][MP3][eMusic][iTunes]

6. Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
Nonesuch, 2.10.2009
I was skeptical of Dan Auerbach breaking from his bandmate to strike out on a solo mission. But I was a fool. Dan brought his funk-filled guitar licks to the studio, polished them off just a tad, and ultimately brought everything to his solo debut that The Black Keys were missing. Keep It Hid has the feel of an artist who knew the exact sound they wanted. Plus, who knew this blues-rocker could slow it down and give us a handful of touching down-tempo ditties to compliment his unique, blistering electric sound.

Dan Auerbach - When The Night Comes
[Direct][Vinyl][CD][MP3][iTunes]

5. Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band - Outer South
Merge, 5.5.2009

I had Outer South, the second album bearing Conor Oberst's name and the first bearing The Mystic Valley Band, in my library for a while this year before I really gave it a listen. I don't know what held me back - maybe I was overwhelmed by the amount of tracks on it and the fact that Conor participated in another release this year - but as soon as I listened once through, I knew it was a top 5 album. This year will mark the 3rd year in a row that Conor Oberst has placed an album in the top 5 here at This Mornin'. Last year, I made the claim that his self-titled album solidified his place as the Best American Songwriter under 30, and with this release I stand by that claim - though he only has 2 more months to hold the title. He will then have wait 5 years in a distant second place until Ryan Adams turns 40.

Outer South doesn't necessarily show us anything particularly new about Conor - his songs continue to be energetic - only slowing when necessary - well-written, and most noticeably perfectly delivered. Conor has a knack for isolating a line apart from the music behind it with the effect of heightening the importance of that lyric like no one else. What sets this album apart from Oberst's earlier work is his band. Although The Mystic Valley Band played on Conor Oberst, that album was more about Conor. On Outer South, he lends prime real estate to his bandmates letting them take 7 of the 16 tracks, including tracks as early as 3 and 4. The songs that Nick Freitas, Taylor Hollingworth, and Jason Boesel wrote and provide lead vocals for aren't my favorite off the album, but they ain't bad, either. Hollingsworth may have the standout non-Oberst song with his Replacements-esque 'Air Mattress.' Outer South is yet another disc from the Omaha alt-rocker that doesn't have a single skippable track.

Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band - Cabbage Town
Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band - Air Mattress
[Direct][Vinyl][CD][MP3][eMusic][iTunes]

4. Deer Tick - Born On Flag Day
Partisan, 6.23.2009

Easily my most anticipated release of the year, Deer Tick's sophomore effort obviously pleased me. But not right at first - if you read my initial reaction, you'll see I was happy with it, but thought it paled in comparison to 2007's War Elephant. What I grew to enjoy about the album after some time, however, was everything that sets Born On Flag Day apart from their debut. Aside from John McCauley's grizzled vocals, this album doesn't have the same grunge-rock feel of which we were introduced to Deer Tick. In its place as an overlying feeling on the album is a bit of a retro-vibe. Born On Flag Day boasts multiple tracks that sound straight out of a 50's studio session outtake disc. Both vocally and musically, I've heard traces of The Everyly Brothers (when they tried out an electric set), The Animals, Chuck Berry, and even some Beatles when I listen to this album. John manages to get those familiar, classic rock tones from his sea-green Fender Strat, both on this album and in the band's live show.

Deer Tick - Stung
[Direct][Vinyl][CD][MP3][eMusic][iTunes]

3. Bombadil - Tarpits & Canyonlands
Ramseur, 7.7.2009

I could sit here and regurgitate words that tell you how Bombadil is groundbreaking, brave, and stylistically unclassifiable, but if you've ever heard their music, that is all too apparent. The simple fact is, it's fun to listen to them - and what else do you really need to know? Tarpits and Canyonlands outreaches the band's last album in terms of accessibility and execution. Here, there are real songs, still liberally arranged with instrumental twists and turns, but in a more focused way. The guys took their time with this recording, and it shows. Most impressively, Tarpits' strongest parts may be the more subdued moments. The slow-building opener 'I Am' provides a gentle, yet ominous lead-in to an album with peaks and valleys in terms of tempo and activity, but never a dull moment.

Bombadil - I Am
Bombadil - Kuala Lumpur
[Direct][CD][MP3][eMusic][iTunes]

2. Dave Rawlings Machine - A Friend of a Friend
Acony, 11.17.2009

I reserved big, comfy spot for this album in my Top 10 as soon as I learned of its release. Don't get me wrong - I still analyzed the songs, but I already knew what we were getting. For an artist with a resume like Dave Rawlings, over a decade to hone his songwriting chops, and the likes of Gillian Welch and Old Crow Medicine Show ushering him in, A Friend of A Friend was bound to be nothing short of spectacular. The last thing I expected going in was to be most impressed by the strength of Dave's original songs. 'Ruby' immediately shot to the top of my favorite songs list, while 'Sweet Tooth' and 'Bells of Harlem' are at once fresh and classically timeless. It's a short and sweet album, with a perfect mix of Dave's early co-writes, well-chosen covers, and original compositions that will no-doubt stand the test of time. Expect a further in-depth review of this one after I've let it simmer a little longer.

Dave Rawlings Machine - Sweet Tooth
[Direct][CD][MP3][eMusic][iTunes]

1. The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
Nonesuch, 6.9.2009

Last year, I expressed my thoughts on what I believe makes a great album. Most importantly, that it need be a cohesive, focused, flowing collection of songs, none being superfluous or out of place. The Low Anthem's Oh My God, Charlie Darwin takes this idea to another level. It's a beautiful record, start to finish, complete with ballads and rockers, an interlude, and a reprise. It flows seamlessly, taking you through ethereal hymns and turbulent gospel barn-burners. Some may argue that OMGCD was a 2008 release - the Providence-based band self-released the album in September of 2008 and were subsequently picked up by Nonesuch Records. The label then gave the record a proper release (including vinyl) in June of this year. I discovered the band just after this release and was pleased to see that their schedule crossed paths with mine and we would both be in Nashville at the same time - me for The Big Surprise Tour, them for an intimate show at The Basement. Catching a live show of theirs and meeting the band members had a big part in the placement of this album at the top of my list. Read my review.
The Low Anthem's strongest quality - as a band and especially on this album - is their unmatched instrumentation. Between only Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystokwsky, and Jocie Adams, The Low Anthem travels with a trailer-full of gear, all of which gets used on a nightly basis. Their stage progression plays out like a carousel, or literally a game of musical chairs. Most instruments can be played by more than one member, each with their own personal flair. I read a few interviews with the band prior to this write-up (check out this well-written one). In one interview, Miller says they try to push their musical limits by limiting their play on instruments they are comfortable with. He says they walk blindfolded into the instrument room; they "prefer to stumble into beauty." Another interesting note I picked up on, Miller says that band doesn't get too caught up in listening to a lot of contemporary music. This is obvious in the end result of their own music - you can't seem to pick out any specific influence or even compare it to anything else you've heard before: completely original music, earthy and natural.

The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin
The Low Anthem - Horizon Is A Beltway
[Direct][Vinyl][CD][MP3][iTunes]

-------------------------------------------------

More best of 2009 at This Mornin':
Top 20 Albums, Part I
Best Videos
Top 5 EPs

Continue to the Best Songs of 2009 post

The Lists: Top 5 Eps of 2009...

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I've been cramming for finals. Ha. Not those... I'm done with school, remember. What I've been cramming is music. Into my ears.

You see, it's that time of year again where every self-respecting blogger boils down the thousands of discs and songs they've collected over the year into structured, numerical lists. This year, my Top Albums list will part of The Bird List (for the record, I voted for The United State of Americana) - a sort of master list aggregated from over 40 Americana/Country/Folk blogs. Our finalized lists of 20 albums are due tonight, and the results will be tallied and will go live (here) on Monday the 14th.

So to answer your agonizing question... yes, my list is complete. And although I know you can't wait any longer to see the definitive Top Albums of the year, I won't be posting mine just yet. Like last year, I will begin my year-end lists with a small sampling of the Best EP's of the year. This year we have 5, 2 up from last year. My albums list has doubled to 20. And I plan on offering somewhere near 50 of my favorite songs this year. Stay tuned, folks.



5. Angus & Julia Stone - The Beast [EP]

I found Australian sibling duo Angus & Julia Stone through Rollo & Grady. I was a little late to the party - they have putting out music for a few years now. This EP saw its US release early this year in preparation for their debut LP A Book Like This. Julia's bubbly yet sultry voice (think Kasey Chambers, Joanna Newsom) is the initial attention-grabber, but Angus' smooth vocals and lyrics will keep you listening.

Soldier
[CD][mp3][iTunes][eMusic]

4. Deer Tick - More Fuel for the Fire [EP]

As expected, 2009 was a huge year for Providence's Deer Tick. Just five months after releasing their sophomore album, John McCauley and crew gave us a new EP sampling 3 new songs. 'La La La' might be the country-est tune Deer Tick has recorded thus far. Guitarist Andrew Tobiassen takes front stage on his tune 'Dance of Love.' And 'Axe Is Forever' is yet another retro-groove sure to stick in your head throughout next year.

La La La
[mp3][iTunes]

3. Jonny Burke - The Long Haul [EP]

Former 1/2 of The Dedringers Jonny Burke spent 2009 on the road across the country opening for such acts as James McMurtry and Ryan Bingham. Somehow, he found the time to record a 5-track EP. 'Ship Come In' enlists Austin's Band of Heathens to help fill sound and vocals. 'El Paso' is a western lament a-la Townes Van Zandt.

El Paso
[CD][free download]

2. Tristen - Deceivers Are Achievers [EP]

A gracious reader emailed me to suggest that I may enjoy an EP from Tristen Gaspadarek, a Nashville-based singer and multi-instrumentalist. He was right. Tristen's brand of jangly pop (rubbed in the dirt just enough to be folk) is right up my alley. Her youthful voice and original melodies have been known to stick in my head some.

Matchstick Murder
[mp3]


1. Joe Pug - In The Meantime [EP]

My favorite discovery of the year was, hands down, Joe Pug. He blew onto the scene last year with his Nation of Heat [EP], but it somehow slipped past me. I'm always a fan of simple acoustic music, and Joe has that art down to perfection. This EP - free on his website - consists of leftover tracks from the Nation sessions. Look for 2010 to be a breakout year for Joe as his touring has recently been shifted into full-gear (including some time overseas with The Low Anthem) and his debut LP, Messenger, is set for a February release.

Dodging The Wind
[free download]

----------------------------------
Refresh your memory with last year's lists:
Top EPs
Top Songs
Top Albums, pt 1
Top Albums, pt 2

Get Lotsa Deer Tick for <$10!!

Deer Tick's 2009-ending EP More Fuel For The Fire is out today through iTunes. Get it for only $3.96. You get 3 new tracks and a live cut of 'Straight Into A Storm.'

Also, Amazon is selling Born On Flag Day for only $5 today. Get you some.

But to keep you folks comin' to this here site, I'll give you some cheap music as well. Here's John from Deer Tick doing his best acoustic Mellancamp:

Deer Tick - Authority (John Mellancamp cover)
Check the video at Fader TV.

"there's no good place in town, but I feel alright..."

Deer Tick - Houston, TX
buy Born on Flag Day (2009)

Saw Deer Tick tonight in Houston.
No cameras allowed.
They opened.
They rocked.
Buy this album. (and this EP... in a couple days)

New Deer Tick EP - December 1st

Deer Tick announced last week that they have a NEW EP ready for release. More Fuel For The Fire will be available exclusively through iTunes December 1st. Read the CMJ story here. The EP will feature 3 new tracks and a live cut of 'Straight Into A Storm' from Born On Flag Day - the band's sophomore album - released only a few short months ago.

I will be attending Deer Tick's show in Houston this weekend to get an early preview of these new tunes. The boys are opening for Neko Case at Warehouse Live. I also plan on catching Slaid Cleaves Friday night at McGonigel's Mucky Duck. If you're ever in the Houston area - check their schedule. Truly one the best places to see live music.

Both of these artists had 2009 releases and have yet another chance to impress me before I finalize my end-of-year lists. And I'm proud to announce that this year, my list will be part of something much bigger than simply this blog. The Bird List will compile chosen albums from more than 30 Americana/Alt-Country/whathaveyou blogs to create the ultimate Best Albums of 2009 master-list. Special thanks to Matt from A Truer Sound for including me in this effort. I'm excited to see how this turns out in its inaugural run.

Viva la Vinyl: Deer Tick Goes Tejano....

A couple Thursdays ago, I shot over to Austin just in time to catch Deer Tick tear down Emo's. The Providence boys were obviously not accustomed to Texas heat, and thus were all shirtless by song number 2. That helped open the door for what would turn out to be a no-holds-barred, raucous evening complete with flying beer, John McCauley on the drums, and even a little crowd surfing (see below). I managed to keep my new camera safe and even snagged a few shots worth keeping.

I had a quick conversation with John after the show, in which he mentioned that he had been by This Mornin'... before. Pretty cool. So, John, if you're reading this, leave a shout out down below. I then saw someone walking by with a white cardboard sleeve just about 7 inches square. Checking with the merch table, my suspicions were confirmed. So here you are, folks, the newest Deer Tick track to hit the web. A seven-inch vinyl-only single, exclusively at www.ThisMornin.com:

Deer Tick - La Bamba (vinyl rip)

Wikipedia says:
'La Bamba' is a Mexican folk song that was made popular in 1958 by the late Ritchie Valens. The la bamba is a traditional Mexican dance performed at weddings (along with the song). Valens' version infused rock 'n roll with traditional Mexican instruments and rhythms. 'La Bamba' is the only non-English song to make Rolling Stones' list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (#345).

The boys split this 7" with The Shivers - a NYC based rock/experimental group, and I have to say I rather enjoy the groove.

The Shivers - Shallow Water (vinyl rip)


In other Deer Tick news, a slew of live sets were linked from their twitter today. They recently did a 'LaundroMatinee' set for MyOldKentuckyBlog. The set features Houston, TX, These Old Shoes, The Dance of Love, Dirty Dishes, and Dead Flowers. You can download the mp3's here. My personal favorite from the collection:



Check out a brand new song John and Dennis debuted at their Waterloo Records in-store performance the day of their show at Emo's:



---------------------------
More Viva la Vinyl at This Mornin'....

Whiskeytown's Record Store Day 7" - 4.30.09
Viva la Vinyl: Ryan Adams Set - 4.15.09
Whiskeytown's Theme For A Trucker - 2.20.09

Following The Elephant....

There were only two debut albums that made my Best of 2007 list, but both of them placed very high. The Kooks' Inside In/Inside Out was my 2nd best album for that year, while Deer Tick's War Elephant took the 3rd spot. The reason I bring this up is that breaking onto the scene with a knockout album can often be a blessing and a curse for a new band. With every subsequent release, critics will continue to use that stellar introduction disc as a barometer of sorts - at least until they outdo themselves. While some never do, I have faith that both The Kooks and Deer Tick will someday surpass the success of their first albums - though neither quite have with their second.

Leading up to the release of The Kooks' follow-up, I anticipated that they may have a tough time matching the effect of their debut. Konk, alone, from the British rockers didn't even come close to the greatness that was Inside In. If it hadn't been for the inclusion of the Rak Bonus Disc, I may have completely forgotten about the album, but this set of extra songs served as a little precursor to what the band has in store in the future - and I'm excited for it. Check out an old post on that bonus disc here.

I didn't have any of the same reservations before Born On Flag Day dropped (today, officially). I never doubted that John McCauley, now with a tight-knit band behind him, would pull off another superb set and blow the doors open. I can't say that Deer Tick has done exactly that, but first, let's explore this new wax.

As Far as making an entrance goes, 'Easy' does its job and grabs your attention. Loud, driving, angry... all while still very much under control. The biting lyrics and la bamba-esque riff in the chorus make the song stay with you. In fact, this track was the only pre-release preview we got, so I've been spinning for about a month and find myself singing it all the time. But by the time the album hit my doorstep, the track was old-news and this makes for slightly less excitement when it happens now. The same can be said for some of the other tracks. 'Little White Lies' and 'The Ghost' were displayed at their Daytrotter Session as well as a live show I have. About the same time I picked up War Elephant, I found an early recording of 'Hell On Earth.' While all of these songs were vastly improved in the studio for this record (The Ghost, especially with the addition of a whining harmonica), much of the freshness has been used up.

But that, folks, is where my disappointment ends. The 'new' tracks are just about all I could have asked for. Well-written, well-structured laments full of bare-faced emotion and building tempos. One of the most impressive aspects of War Elephant was the wide range of influence present in the song styling. Born On Flag Day lengthens this range with hints of John Prine ('Song About A Man'), Chuck Berry ('Straight Into A Storm'), and even some classic 50's-style melodies and vocals ('Stung').

A fresh voice enters the mix on 'Friday XIII' when Liz Isenberg, another Providence native, joins John in a duet she co-wrote. She goes from simple harmony addition to taking on a verse herself, and they finish with some fast paced call-and-answer vocals.

The album is capped of with a live sing-along (hidden track) of the classic bar-closer 'Goodnight Irene' sure to give new Deer Tick fans a glimpse into the Deer Tick live experience and drink-loving demeanor.

My favorite line on the disc comes in the aforementioned 'The Ghost' as an irrelevant Surgeon General's warning doesn't phase John, simply for the fact that he is neither pregnant, nor a woman:

"There's a label on the bottle that I read
But it don't have a thing to do with me
I ain't carrying no child; it's only dreams I got inside
And tonight they're getting drunk with me"

All that said, I can't put this new one above Deer Tick's debut. As is often the case, you can never duplicate your first experience with a new band, so maybe I'm just spoiled. Thanks guys.

Song About A Man
Straight Into A Storm

Pick up Born On Flag Day today.
CD: [Direct/Amazon]
Vinyl: [Direct/Amazon]
Digital: [iTunes/Amazon]

For a limited time, grab a download of War Elephant for $5 at Amazon.

Brian Williams - Deer Tick Interview

Think I was lying about NBC Newscaster Brian Williams' fanhood of Deer Tick??

Pre-Order Born On Flag Day (6/23/09): Vinyl/CD.

Deer Tick Finding Bigger Spotlight (+Brand New Track)

Things are falling into place for John McCauley and his cohorts. With the band's nonchalant attitude toward fame and success, I can quite tell you things are falling into the exact place that they had planned - or even imagined. Deer Tick, the Providence, Rhode Island grunge-country band, has seen a dramatic ascension in notoriety since John's first recorded guitar strum.

Deer Tick's debut War Elephant was originally released on the small Houston label Feow Records back in 2007. By the time I first heard of the band, the small label had been sold out of the record for some time. Luckily, iTunes held a digital copy. War Elephant was immediately impressive - in fact, I named it my #3 album of 2007 in my first post ever here at This Mornin'...

That small feat is just a grain of sand on the beach that has been made out of notable accomplishments for Deer Tick. A simple google search will yield countless press snippets of praise for War Elephant and their live show, many from much more reputable sources than this (check this and this out for even more).

Recently, the attention focused on Deer Tick has become harder to ignore. I learned that in the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Deer Tick was named the #1 Breaking band at SXSW 2009. If that didn't impact you enough, let me try to put it in perspective. SXSW is THE largest gathering of unsigned, new artists in one place IN THE WORLD. So, according to Rolling Stone - a fairly well-regarded music voice - Deer Tick was the best out of 1900 new-ish bands from 46 different countries. Yeah.


Just a few days after that news broke, I found this:

Watch Brian Williams talk about his favorite new bar band.

Also, John sent us a link to a video of Keith Morris (Black Flag/Circle Jerks) buying a copy of War Elephant. Pretty cool.

I have a strong suspicion that before the end of 2009, Dave Letterman and SNL will be making a few calls to the band. Especially after this drops in June:

The hip new label Partisan Records had the great idea to not only sign Deer Tick, but to re-release War Elephant late last year. The first effort with the band, Born on Flag Day, will hit shelves and ears on June 23rd, 2009.

Pre-order: Vinyl/CD.

1. Easy
2. Little White Lies
3. Smith Hill
4. Song About A Man
5. Houston, TX
6. Straight Into A Storm
7. Friday XIII
8. The Ghost
9. Hell On Earth
10. Stung

------------------------------------
More Deer Tick at This Mornin...

• A Little Kum-Ba-Yah with Deer Tick

• War Elephant Re-Release/Review

------------------------------------

A Little Kum-Ba-Yah With Deer Tick...

Caught Deer Tick on St. Patty's Day at an in-store performance at Cactus Music in Houston. The early evening gig took place upon the band's arrival town before their night show at Rudyard's. Nevermind their tour-van-worn appearance, foggy eyes, and slightly late arrival - these guys are good. And their party-first, obligation-later attitude only helps them make what they do look so easy.

John McCauley took the stage alone, beginning with a nimbly-picked 'Ashamed.' One by one, John invited the other band members up to the stage; each song adding one more layer of silky-smooth harmony. The parade of friends culminated with a five-part rendition of 'Dirty Dishes' done with a campfire sing-along feel.

Going solo once again, McCauley showed us a witty song, 'Cake & Eggs' co-written with a member of folk trio Those Darlins and admittedly ripped off from a John Prine Song. He also introduced us to the first taste of Born On Flag Day, his next album, due out sometime later this year.

The showcase was capped off with a somewhat darker version of Hank's 'Never Get Out of this World Alive.' I've always felt a strong presence of ol' Hank in John's stage swagger and country drawl (see 'Spend The Night'), but it was nice to hear him put his own flare on one of the legend's best songs.

More Pictures:























Here are some miscellaneous DT tunes I found in my library:

Deer Tick - Hobo's Lullaby
courtesey SpliceToday.com's The Old Lonesome Sound Mix
Deer Tick - Still Crazy After All These Years
Paul Simon cover courtesy Aquarium Drunkard
Deer Tick - Hell On Earth
unreleased Deer Tick track

Check out my War Elephant re-release post

War Elephant Re-Release.....

i started This Mornin' I Am Born Again early this year after discovering the music blogosphere and the various 'Best Albums of 2007' posts that flooded it. My first posts consisted of my own lists of Top 10 Albums as well as Top 10 Songs. It seems only fitting to review your previous year's 'best of' list prior to making the next year's. Aside from improving the writing and aesthetic quality of the posts, i can't say i would make many adjustments. But a year's worth of additional listening is almost certain to change one's opinions of the music ingested.


One album from my '07 list that has remained very near my CD player at all times is my #3 pick, War Elephant. Deer Tick (John McCauley III and band) has recently been signed to Partisan Records and they are re-releasing his superb debut. By the time i first became aware of Deer Tick, the label that originally released the album, Feow Records, was already sold out of the original (on only) pressing. But i picked it up on iTunes and was immediately impressed.


The overall sound of War Elephant can be described as grunge-country with its topped out electric guitars and rough drum beats providing a backdrop for honest, earthy lyrics. John McCauley's growl is surprisingly welcoming in a modern John Prine sort-of way. He occasionally reaches for notes out of his range, but the authenticity in his emotion remains.

The songs that make up the disc are well written, especially for such a young musician (he was 20 at recording), but the most impressive part of the effort are the arrangements. The lead off track Ashamed, for example, begins with a simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure; an upbeat drum enters making the listener believe the song is beginning anew - only to come to an abrupt end after another short verse. Following, Art Isn't Real uses a climbing melody mixed with flamenco-style picking and a conservative fiddle riff to create a deceptively hopeful song. John sings "there's gotta be some old recipe. I gotta get drunk, I gotta forget about some things."

Dirty Dishes is an plodding look back at a failed relationship: "And you cried all night/ 'til you created a stream and it flows forever/ and it's made of dreams that didn't come true/ and I'm sorry there's nothing more /that I can do." John seems hopeless, noting that he killed all the flowers, until he finishes "things could be so much worse." Another look back at love-gone, Diamond Rings 2007, incidentally took the #7 spot on my 'best of' list. Baltimore Blues No. 1 exhibits an expertly picked acoustic intro, augmented with simple electric accompaniments.

On the surface, Townes and Dylan-esque qualities are evident, but somewhere deeper, you'll find a hint of Hank Williams influence, most obvious in the barn-stomping Spend The Night. To round out John's varied sound, the final track has a cabaret-ballad feel a la Frank Sinatra. The organic, meshing sound of the album on the whole is explained by one simple fact: John McCauley played every instrument on it.

Ashamed
Dirty Dishes

The reissue is available for pre-order now and will be shipped for receipt by November 11th.

Pre-order the Limited Edition Vinyl ~ $26.99
"very limited edition of 300 double LP pressings on 140G RED vinyl with expanded LP jacket printing on 20pt board stock. Fourth side laser etching and insert w/ full lyrics."

Pre-order the Basic Vinyl ~ $19.99

Pre-order the Re-issued CD ~ $11.99


Although i'm very excited for War Elephant to receive vinyl immortality, i was hoping the next Deer Tick news on the wire would be that of a follow-up album. We're not completely out of luck, however. Partisan Records says they plan on releasing another disc of "early original Deer Tick songs" in the near future.

Cover/Uncovered: Obscure Covers....

Bands have been reaching outside of their influence bag to find those not-so-normal cover songs for quite a while. In the 90's The Gourds covered Snoop's Gin & Juice, Alien Ant Farm went MJ on us with Smooth Criminal, and and Dynamite Hack paid tribute the original gangsta Eazy E with their mellow version of Boyz In The Hood.

Here's a semi-new batch of obscure covers - originals are not included this time since pop music is evil and contagious.

Deer Tick - Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston)
i love that John noticed the Doo-Wop undertones in this song an expanded on them - even breaking into Stand By Me at the end.

The Kooks - All That She Wants (Ace of Base)
buy Radio 1 Established 1967 (2007)
A perfect fit for these guys.

Nickel Creek - Toxic (Britney Spears)
Simply amazing musicianship/showmanship.
Forgive the quality - it's a youtube rip. Check it out.

Playlist Pulse: Raawwk.....

Self-explanatory. Turn it up.

1. The Kooks - See The World
   buy Inside In/Inside Out (2006)
   
2. Cross Canadian Ragweed - Don't Need You
   buy Purple (2002)
   
3. The Black Keys - Thickfreakness
   buy Thickfreakness (2003)
   
4. Deer Tick - Standing At The Threshold
   from War Elephant (2007)
   
5. Ryan Adams - Shallow
   buy Rock N Roll (2003)