Customer Reviews

All the Houses Look the Same

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sometime in the last year or two the `emo' genre stopped being cool (I tried telling this to the kids at the local Hot Topic, but no...), and a whole score of bands either simply stopped making music or started calling themselves the new, improved and cool thing to be labeled as: Indie-rock. Right behind them came a new wave of bands (such as Copeland, Lovedrug, etc.) and though still influenced by the emo rockers, filled with a musical prowess that previous bands didn't possess. The Arkansas-bred musicians of Deas Vail fit into the latter group, with their new album All the Houses Look the Same, which boasts a huge sound with a piano-fueled sensibility that captures the imagination as well as the ear.

Frontman Wes Blaylock could very well be one of the best new vocalists in all of rock music, soaring above airy guitars and keys in a way that I thought only Copeland's Aaron Marsh was capable of (especially on the Mew-like "A Lover's Charm"). Backed by crunching guitars on tracks like the aggressive "Surfacing," and a simple yet effective piano-line on "Shoreline" Blaylock's voice soars through the roof and into the upper levels of the atmosphere.

Deas Vail's musical display shines the most when veering on the more melancholy side of the indie scene, especially on tracks like "Follow Sound," a five minute epic reminiscent of Coldplay. The band rarely falls into the trap of generic radio pop on All the Houses Look the Same, but even the tracks that do, such as "Anything You Say," or "Light as Air," only suffer from straying on the side of slightly more light-hearted pop.

However, musical maturity abounds that you don't usually expect on debut albums. Take "Shadows and City Lights," for example, a powerful tour-de-force with a deceiving intro that meanders slowly through moody keys and samples until the chorus, when hard-hitting guitars combine with a glockenspiel combine to create a powerful backgdrop as Blaylock sings of a hopeless relationship.A young band that capitalizes off of their influences with amazing ease, and a sound that is as interesting as it is accessible, Deas Vail seems poised for greatness. The future looks promising, and if their debut album is any indication, we'll be hearing more from this band--a lot more.

Deas Vail does not have as much of a rock sound as Mae does, but there are striking similarities between the two groups. I find many tracks quite deep sonically as well as lyrically, the soundscapes and textures are only limited by a less-than stellar recording quality.

I despise the use of "emo" to describe any kind of soft rock where the lead singer sounds like he or she is still in high school. It does a great disservice to these bands that have much deeper lyrics beyond emo favorites such as breakups and how unfair life is.

You've been listening to pop/alt rock for a while. Maybe too long. You're starting to feel like you've heard it all. All the houses look the same. What does anyone have to do to find that little something special in their music these days? Where's that little bit of honesty? The vocalist who didn't take lessons from the last guy? Where's the real emotion in my music? Who appreciates the silence between phrases? Who cares about the bigger picture these days?

Enter Deas Vail. A chance encounter on Pandora for which I couldn't be more thankful.

You don't need me to tell you what they sound like; you can listen to the samples for that. The best way I can describe the band on this album (and in Birds and Cages, go buy that too) is not by describing their sound but how they use it. It's light when it has to be light and urgent when urgency is necessary. Nothing feels out of place. They perform with such tempo and conviction for an alternative band. You can tell there's something earnest and truthful about their music. It's a subtle thing that really makes itself clear as you progress through the different sounds in the album. And Wes delivers the vocals with such mastery it's just plain unfair to the competition. Their sound just makes me feel as if I've taken a breath of fresh air and they've completely revitalized my enthusiasm for the genre.

The music of Deas Vail will absolutely move you. The more you listen, the more you will come to realize just what your usual fix has been lacking. To that end, I feel like the title of the album is very significant to Deas Vail's debut. I'd say that the other houses do look the same and theirs is quite different and striking... but this band is far too humble to ever admit it.

Now go listen to Birds and Cages too.

Deas Vail's cd All the Houses Look the Same is a wonderful beginning for this new band. By being lyrically inventive their work stands out and creates a space for them in the music world. Their sound, piano driven and falsetto laden, is also unique. It takes a little to get used to, but after a few listens this cd feels like home. Those who branch out and give this band a try will be greatly rewarded and encouraged by Deas Vail's new sound and poetic lyrics.

Deas Vail is easily one of the most talented bands in the market place. The vocalist, Wes Blaylock, comes from a trained vocal background. Instead of this placing him in a box, it has given him a key and allowed him to break out of the mold of rock vocalists and just sing his heart out. Laura Beth plays such beautiful melodies on the keys, and occasionally adds an angelic harmony to her new husband. Andy is the gentle giant in the band. He is fun to hang out with, but for the sake of the review, is even better at finding the songs hidden in his guitar and drawing them out. Very creative work. Kelsey rocks the drums in quite a unique way. i can easily pick his drumming out of a crowd. Often driving, sometimes simplistic, but almost always done in a way that the average human would not think of, nor anticipate, yet it always fits the music perfectly. Jonathan is the band's newest addition at bass, and fills the role incredibly well, with the bass often carrying the beautiful melodies and having a more creative role in the music than simply providing the low-end.
As opposed to the earlier days of Deas Vail, the songs are more of a collaborative creative effort, rather than simply songs written by one man and backed by a band. The music, then, is more complex, and filled with the emotions and backgrounds of 5 different people. The gentlemen (and lady) of this band, are more than simply great musicians, but also fantastic people. They are genuine, compassionate people with a vision. Support it. It is worthy.

This independent act has delivered the finest debut of the year so far. The defining element of Deas Vail is the incredible falsetto of classically trained vocalist Wes Blaylock. The album is a great collection of pop rock tunes that are mainly piano driven, but the electric guitars do come out on a few songs. Case in point, "Surface", which is one of the best cuts, and features very cool background instrumentation, as do many other selections on the album. Another outstanding track is "Rewind", which finds Blaylock singing "This is how it feels to break up soundwaves, and fall into a quiet place..." Other standouts are "Anything You Say", "Life In These Little Boats", and "This Place is Painted Red." This quintet is dripping with musical talent, and you won't be disappointed.

This is a great albumi loved it. its so good and really is a great cd. if u like deas vail BUY IT. u wont be disapointed

and man am I glad I did! Holy crap these guys are good. I've been in music for quite a while and rarely do I come across talent like this. I accidentally found them on iTunes (thank you Genius!) and almost immediately bought this album. I am EXTREMELY picky when it comes to music, so I had to listen to them a few times to make sure I would be satisfied. I have absolutely no regrets on this purchase. If you're tired of the same junk on the radio that gets played and played and played, over and over again, then check these guys out. Their talent and creativity is something to be appreciated. You won't regret it.

This has to be one of the best bands I have ever listened to. I bought this cd after buying birds and cages, and honestly this one is even better. They are both amazing albums. Don't wait just get the cd, you will not regret it!

Deas Vail is the kind of music I listen to when I'm doing homework. Not too loud, not quiet enough to put you to sleep. Very rhythmic, with drums that do more than just bang on the cymbals. The band uses a lot of piano with some guitar work to create a sort of ambient feel something along the lines of Lost Ocean or maybe even some of Mae's older, piano-laced songs. The most signature element is surely Wes Blaylock's vocals, which shift seamlessly between a standard tenor range and a soaring falsetto that sounds surprisingly natural. My personal favorite track is probably "Lover's Charm", which happens to showcase Blaylock's singing ability quite well. One word of warning: listeners not used to hearing men sing this high might find it a little creepy at first, but rest assured, you will get used to it quickly.