Customer Reviews

Elvis Perkins in Dearland

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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I love Elvis Perkins' music. I became a fan as soon as Ash Wednesday came out. And where that album faultered just a little, this one does not. The songs are amazing. The first two songs are two of the best songs to come out this year, "Shampoo" and "Hey." The first is a dark, moody song with a great melody and a Tom Pettyesqu harmonica solo. The second is an upbeat little ditty that sounds like a song M. Ward wishes he could write, no offense to M. Ward. I don't know if there is another album out this year that can rival this one in terms of the two opening songs...even into the third song, "Hours Last Stand." All these songs are amazing. Even when he gets into a long ballad type song with "Send My Fond Regards to Lonelyville", which clocks in at over 6 minutes, it's just flows along and it's over before you realize it. The album ends with the very bittersweet piano ballad, "How's Forever Been Baby" which I like to think is a song about lovers reuniting in a sort of post apocalyptic world and it kind of makes sense that it might be about this considering one of the songs preceeding this one is "Doomsday."

One of the best albums of the year.

Key Track: Hey

I heard this on NPR on the way to work this morning. It gave me shivers.

The music is dark with minor chords and the strong sense of nostalgia evident in the lyrics creates an emptiness in the pit of the stomach. However, through a process of catharsis the ultimate effect is very uplifting.

Buy it if you like highly multiphonic music with blues, jazz and alternative rock influences. Sounds like "The Arcade Fire."

Elvis Perkins is the most exciting thing to happen to my generation of singer/songwriters-- and with Dearland, his music has become more upbeat while remaining as poignant as his debut, "Ash Wednesday". The best album of the year hands down.

Chains, Chains, Chains, and Doomsday are especially good songs and in general no bad songs on this CD. I am definitely glad that I bought this one!

Elvis Perkins has pulled off quite a sonic transformation on `Elvis Perkins in Dearland', his new eponymous sophomore album. Whereas his solo debut, `Ash Wednesday' was a spare and often times maudlin affair, `Elvis Perkins in Dearland' seems almost joyful in its moroseness. `Elvis Perkins In Dearland' is a full band effort and this change seems to have added some energy and looseness to Elvis Perkins style. Elvis Perkins is now joined by touring band mates, Brigham Brough (upright bass, saxophone, vocals), Wyndham Boylan-Garnett (pump organ, guitar, harmonium, trombone, vocals), and Nick Kinsey (drums, percussion, banjo, clarinet, vocals).

Elvis Perkins still sings like an old soul but the full band effort more closely matches his cabaret style of performance. With songs that are rooted in darker moods and tones, the band is able to provide a fuller atmosphere than a lone acoustic guitar. Opener "Shampoo" benefits from this style with its Dylanesque harmonica and swampy keyboards that lurk in the background. The droning "Hours Last Stand" has an accented piano and organ that wonderfully complement the vocals as a drum beats out a lonely cadence.

Stylistically, `Elvis Perkins In Dearland' is all over the map. Outside influences play heavily on this album as traces of Dylan, Waits, and George Harrison can be found in various songs. There are shades of the former style that Elvis Perkins incorporated on "Ash Wednesday" notably on "Send My Fond Regards To Lonelyville" and "How's Forever Been My Baby." "Doomsday" sounds like a New Orleans funeral dirge while "123 Goodbye" is a reflective lament.

`Elvis Perkins In Dearland' demonstrates that Elvis Perkins is willing to experiment with his sound and that those experiments are also successfully rewarded.

I recently caught an interview with EP on NPR, which featured snippets of his music and said to myself: "I have to get this guy's albums ASAP!"
EP & Dearland hearken back to many influences: Dylan,the Band,Van Morrison, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Dixieland, New Orleans jazz and funeral bands, funeral dirges, even a little McCartney & Lennon and Arcade Fire; I hear a tad of Clapton unplugged, too, especially in "Shampoo", where Perkin's voice takes on a distinctly "I Shot The Sheriff" Claptonesque reggae tone. Then if you add in a little country/bluegrass influence and an alt.rock sensibility and shake and stir; viola, you have EP & Deerland!
They fuse all of those influences but maintain an originality and freshness and style of their own. They are folk in style but I wouldn't classify them simply as folk music. Maybe alt.folk.rock.dixieland.poetry?
They are one of the few bands that can combine morose,thoughtful lyrics with uptempo music and not sound contrived and foolish.
EP & Deerland combine good vocals, excellent songwriting and masterful musicianship.
I am looking forward to seeing them in May when they come to my area and I can still get cheap seats!

Elvis Perkins in Dearland proves Elvis Perkins has what it takes to be great. He can sing; he can write; and he never sounded better. Elvis with Dearland turn out a solid CD. I really like the way Elvis and the band handle these songs; and I predict they'll be around for quite some time to come. The quality of the sound on this CD is excellent and I really like that artwork.

"Shampoo" starts the CD with a noirish yet catchy tune that packs a punch! I really like "Shampoo;" Elvis Perkins sings this very well and Dearland never falters, either. The guitar work and that organ enhance the music that goes along with Elvis as he sings---but wisely they never actually steal the spotlight from Elvis Perkins; they share it with him and I'm impressed. "Shampoo" is clearly a major highlight of this album. "Hey" has a peppy, folk music flavor mixed maybe with just a touch of rock for good effect; and listen for "Hours Last Stand." "Hours Last Stand" stuns me with its beauty. Elvis sings this so well I am reminded of the great Paul McCartney--Elvis is clearly all THAT good. "Hours Last Stand" has a pensive, melancholy feel to it that helps to make this a strong number; and "Hours Last Stand" is clearly a major highlight of this album.

"I Heard Your Voice In Dresden" is another catchy tune that you won't forget anytime soon; it made a good impression on me the first time I heard it and it only grows on me with each listen. This joyful, truly optimistic ballad showcases Elvis singing at his best; and his excellent diction enhances his singing all the more. Dearland really delivers on "I Heard Your Voice In Dresden," too. The sound of this ballad overall is enough to make you jump up and start dancing wherever you are! Listen also for "I'll Be Arriving;" "I'll Be Arriving" has quite a powerful musical arrangement that rocks but the slow tempo for this bluesy, somewhat jazzy song works, too. Listen for some mighty powerful guitar work on "I'll Be Arriving."

"Chains, Chains, Chains" is excellent; Elvis sings this with all his heart and soul; and you can tell he truly wears his heart on his sleeve. "Doomsday" has some horn solo at the beginning; yet that's not where this ballad goes. The melody to "Doomsday" plays with you a little bit; the music gradually builds into a type of optimistic crescendo with some pretty awesome guitar and drum work. When Elvis Perkins comes in this number takes off like a jet! In addition, there's a line in "Doomsday" that refers to someone "(voting) for that awful man;" I think we should remember that "Doomsday" was written under a different president. I don't think "Doomsday" has any reference to Obama.

"123 Goodbye" places Elvis Perkins squarely front and center--and he bats this straight out of the ballpark! "123 Goodbye" is a very solid number; and the album ends very strong with Elvis Perkins and Dearland performing "How's Forever Been Baby." "How's Forever Been Baby" leaves me wanting more.

Elvis Perkins has great talent that shows through so clearly on this album; and Dearland doesn't let anyone down. I highly recommend this for fans of Elvis and Dearland; and people just discovering the incredible talent of Elvis Perkins and Dearland would do well to start with this outstanding CD. If you like this album, try the album "Ash Wednesday" and catch Elvis on his tour!

I tagged along with my daughter and a friend to see Elvis Perkins at the Clearwater Festival a few weeks ago. He did a great performance and the songs really were great, so I got both of his CDs and a couple of autographs. The crowd loved him and they all got up and jumped in rhythm for Doomsday. Great tunes, great words (I love the combo of dark lyrics and catchy upbeat tunes). I was immediately struck by the pleasant yet varied quality of his voice. The band is great and uses some interesting sounds... including brass, violin, hand organ, and Elvis' harmonica. There are so many influences showing in his music that it ends up quite original from the mix. Anyway, just get the two albums. I like the second better, but both are great and should become necessary purchases for anyone.

Just bought the mp3 of "shampoo" after hearing it on WERS. My new favorite song.

Some of music on this CD reminds me John Lennon, other songs sound a bit like Neil Young. All mixed in Elvis' original wrap. Great Stuff!