Shakey Graves- And The War Came (ALBUM REVIEW)

[rating=8.00]

shakeygravesalbumThanks to the visceral folk sound of his debut Roll the Bones, Alejandro Rose-Garcia, better known as Shakey Graves, landed himself a handful of prestigious live shows this past year, including the Newport Folk Festival and Celebrate Brooklyn. His onstage charisma is vibrant and magnetic, no doubt resulting in a fast growing following of fans (the boyish good looks don’t hurt, either). Now, with his new record And Then the War Came, he proves he’s here to stay with a more diverse and creative Americana style that hits the heartstrings with force.

The Austinite is known for his one-man-band performances, plucking guitar with his fingers and playing drums with his feet, and his latest record seems to emulate that spirit as much as possible. It’s sparse, yet still lush and beautiful. The instrumentals are kept simple so as to let his dusty howl shine. Rose-Garcia’s voice is like a secret weapon, adding an ethereal lightness or a gritty earthiness so naturally and effortlessly. He rasps like Caleb Followill on “If Not For You”, an electric, bluesy live wire of a song, but whispers so delicately on the folksy and bare “Only Son”. The fact that he’s able to transition back and forth so seamlessly is a feat in itself.

On War he collaborates on a handful of songs with the angelic songstress Esme Patterson, who adds a sweet mellow tone. Songs like the ghostly “Dearly Departed” and the bare bones “Big Time Nashville Star”, are both full of smooth, honeyed harmonies so lovely you’ll be wishing these two would just put out a whole record together.

Alas, there are some truly gorgeous solo numbers on War, including the slow burn “House of Winston” in all its dark and romantic melancholy, and the ode to regret “Pansy Waltz”, with its heavenly “oooh”s. Rose-Garcia never really rocks out on this album, but he doesn’t need to. There’s nothing lacking from these thoughtful, toned down tracks, and each hits intense notes both sad and soulful. “Hard Wired” is easily the most impressive vocal display on the record, featuring Rose-Garcia’s uninhibited and perfectly weathered wail.

The standout gem on War comes with “Family and Genus”, an elevated, dreamy folk-pop tune that’s otherworldly and celestial. The sublime use of strings is a nice contrast with the frequent distorted amp sounds on many of the other songs on the album. It’s refreshing to see Rose-Garcia confidently stepping outside the lines of his usual guy-with-a-guitar style and taking some aesthetic chances for the sake of a more multi-dimensional sound.

Overall, War is a much darker turn for him than his previous release, and this new cloudiness suits him. Whereas on Roll the Bones there was a more traditional Americana sound with lots of banjo and harmonica, War feels more contemporary and alternative. It’s still a surefire folk album, but there’s a lot more to it this time. That same troubadour spirit remains ingrained, but Rose-Garcia reminds us that he’s a young musician who isn’t afraid to delve into new territory. And it nearly always pays off.

Related Content

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

New to Glide

Keep up-to-date with Glide

Twitter