| Sunday, July 15, 2007 |
| MOTW #19: Deas Vail - This Place is Painted Red |
There are only a few artists who I feel truly privileged to have stumbled upon, and Deas Vail (read: day-ahs-vale) is one of them. Although they are a relatively young band and have just released their first full-length album, All the Houses Look the Same, earlier this year, they seem to effortlessly make music that is original and accessible and interesting. Their brand of indie rock breaks away from the norm because of the ambient instrumentation and "nursery rhyme-ish" melody lines (as leader singer Wes says); they manage to avoid excessive use of heavy guitars in favor of melodic pianos and synths. The song structures on this album defy traditional rock formulas, which sometimes makes it difficult to grasp onto the hooks or choruses of their music at first listen. However, I consider this to be a good thing, because after a few listens, one begins to appreciate the complexity of their instrumentation and lyrics; there are consistently new things to discover, which keeps Deas Vail's music far from being boring.
The song I have chosen for today's MOTW is one of the last on their album and is called "This Place is Painted Red". There are so many things I love about this song that it's hard to know where to begin. The track starts with a drum solo by their (unbelievably talented) drummer, Kelsey Harelson. The instrumentation stays simple during the verses, with each instrument playing very separate, distinctive roles in the song. This simplicity continues until the chorus, when all the instruments present combine in a way that is both rhythmic and melodic. The song grows even more in complexity and emotional appeal as the chorus gives way to the heart-wrenching string section that accompanies the final bridge of the song, before ending with a simple, but beautiful, piano solo. The lyrics of this song give it much of its charm. Like the instrumentation, they defy formulas, even to the point of never rhyming. The lyrics read like a story and don't necessarily sound like poetry, but they are so honest and full of imagery that they instantly capture the imagination and make the listener really contemplate the issues of relationships and pain and hope that they discuss. The lyrics also manage to fit flawlessly with the music, which helps to make this track a pleasure to listen to from beginning to end.
If you like this track at all, I highly recommend buying the album, because I have absolutely no doubt that you will love the whole thing. And also, if it is at all possible, go see them on tour, because they are amazing live. Not to mention that they are incredibly kind people. Alright, enough shameless band promoting. Go enjoy the song!!
Deas Vail - This Place is Painted Red
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Lyrics:
I get up and I walk away. I swear I won't get caught in this mold. I live in sacred days. What's the point if I'm reconciling past positions? No one sees this, I am so naive. Put the pressure on. I'm only human, but I'll do this with you if you will speak through me. Take me to that place; I was a boy there. I was so alive, but now I am lost in life. So my friend, you tell me over and over, and I said again: Why won't you open up? I want to be held again while the walls are falling down. Cause I forget what it was like before you were asleep there underground. Give me back my life. I am so weary, I am barely breathing. When can we sail away? If you're the open skies, I am the oceans, and horizons make the place we can meet again. We were so lost...
Labels: mp3 of the week |
posted by Jill @ 10:07 PM  
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| 11 Comments: |
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I like this song a lot! Its pretty sweet! I think I may check them out on iTunes. (I love iTunes... hahaha)
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I'm such a compulsive iTunes buyer...
Great stuff, glad you found them for me.
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Wow great song. One of my favorite MOTWs so far.
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I really really love that song! Im going to buy it off of iTunes! Right AWAY!
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I enjoyed the song, Jill. I love the instrumentation, but personally, I found the drums distracting (but that's just me) :)
Good MOTW choice!
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I like 'em! I am finding that I like most of what gets posted here...these guys have a nice sound, hawthorn heights-ish w/o the screamo..:) good band!
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wow, I actually like this motw. way to go, jill.
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i'm loving this! thanks jill.
btw guys, this band played in jill's house/backyard a few days ago. too cool.
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@ shawna lea - Yay! Glad you enjoy it... And definitely do check them out on iTunes, because (a) iTunes is pretty cool and (b) Deas Vail is even cooler. :D
@ david - Well, I'm glad you like them! And yes, iTunes is addicting.
@ christine - awesome. that's all. you are just... awesome.
@ Jessica - sweet, I'm glad you love it AND that you are buying it. I know they can always use the support, and I'm sure that they appreciate it. And I don't doubt that you will love all of their music.
@ Faye - I guess I can see what you mean about the drums being distracting, because they are very prominent in the recording. But drums are probably my second favorite instrument to listen to, and Kelsey is a ridiculously talented drummer, so I love them. :D But I'm glad you liked the rest of the song!
@ Josh - I haven't actually heard of Hawthorn Heights, so I hope that's a compliment. ;) And we'll do our best to keep posting bands that you like in the future!!
@ rose - well, I'm glad you enjoy it! But do you usually dislike the motw's??
@ Phil-emon Thomas - You are quite welcome. I thought you would enjoy it. And yes, yes, I know, I'm too cool. Juuuuuust kidding (kind of). ;)
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Thanks for posting "This Place is Painted Red" by Deas Vail. I really like it.
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@ Jennifer - Hey, no problem. Glad you enjoy it!
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I like this song a lot! Its pretty sweet! I think I may check them out on iTunes. (I love iTunes... hahaha)