Deas Vail - Birds and Cages
Record Label: Mono vs. Stereo
Release Date: Oct. 27, 2009
It's pretty hard to write something disparaging or unpleasant about Arkansas quintet Deas Vail. The band, which still maintains its Christian roots, has done little to polarize its audience, has kept its collective nose clean and prefers to stay far from the spotlight. Ever humble, always appreciative and unfailingly sincere, the band backs up their off-stage persona with a well-crafted mix of piano-based prettiness and a thoroughly engaging live set.
On their third full-length album Birds and Cages, the band has all the right intentions and the winning formula, but the disc falters under the weight of its own prettiness and grandiosity. Vocalist Wes Blaylock has a feathery timbre that stretches to falsetto often and has the kind of sweetly affecting hypnotism not unlike Aaron Marsh. Album opener, "The Things You Were," is proof of the band's magnetism, as backup vocalist/keyboardist Laura Blaylock and backup vocalist/drummer Kelsey Harelson add their sultry vocals to a stirring, piano-fueled melody. Said piano is an instrument the band wears on their sleeve, allowing it to take centerstage on most songs, most noticeably the cinematic sweep of "Dance in Perfect Time," which feels a lot like a b-side from The Everglow. Of all the songs on the album, the real winners are the ballads, most notably "Puzzles and Pieces," which seems destined for a movie soundtrack or prime-time television.
When the band does chooses to up the sonic ante and take a stab at mid-tempo modern rock a la The Fray, the songs seem to run together and fall apart. The one exception is the punchy "Excuses," which has a radio-ready chorus and is one of only a select few rockers on the album that isn't overwhelmed by Blaylock's high-pitched crooning. The duration of the disc just comes across as belletristic and only the album's last three tracks, "The Great Physician," "The Leaper" and "Atlantis" really take the band to the next level.
And yet for all the shortcomings on Birds and Cages, it's hard to find too many glaring flaws. This is unadulterated, simple piano-pop, laden with a crystalline prettiness, gauzy textures and supple melodies. And when music like Jeffree Starr and Brokencyde can pass the buck, listening to Birds and Cages is a welcome respite. That being said, Birds and Cages needs to be more than just a respite, it needs to be a masterpiece, and unfortunately it falls far short of that goal.
Great review. Hit the nail on the head. First listen, I was a bit disappointed - probably due to massive expectations. However, after a few more spins, I'm really enjoying it. Still, it's not quite at masterpiece level.
Great review. Hit the nail on the head. First listen, I was a bit disappointed - probably due to massive expectations. However, after a few more spins, I'm really enjoying it. Still, it's not quite at masterpiece level.
Nope. And they are capable of creating one too. They have all the tools in place.
I've only listened through the entire album once, but upon initial listen it sounds good and I have a lot of th same feelings that you write about in your review.
Nope. And they are capable of creating one too. They have all the tools in place.
i completely agree. it's a beautiful album, but a bit frustrating when you listen to their catalog and know they're capable of producing an Everglow or Beneath Medicine Tree. i still have great hope for these guys.
I will politely disagree. Album is fantastic to me and for the most part what I wanted. I think if I had to choose any disappointments that stand out the most it would have to concern the lack of feel this album has compared to the White Lights EP. That EP felt very cohesive with its imagery and this album doesn't seem to quite hold up to how the EP was laid out. But then again EPs have less room for error so I suppose that has a lot to do with it.
So it was mainly (to speak it bluntly) the parts of songs where the band attempted to feel more energetic? I'm not faulting you on the opinion I was just curious to where you found that the album fell slightly apart at.
Excellent review. Every review you write is better than the last, I always look forward to the next.
Regardless, this album will probably near my AOTY. I love "Birds" and "Tell Me" the only crime is that the latter is so short. Vocals seem to get better and better with each release.
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