Frontier Ruckus

Deadmalls & Nightfalls is caught between something awfully overwrought and something breathtakingly simple

. The album succeeds when the band follows the structure of its traditional bluegrass roots. The Tower is understated, with acoustic guitar, lumbering bass, and the shimmering banjo of David Winston Jones. Singer-songwriter Matthew Milia muses about a redeemer and reveals, Ive had three wives / The first was your ghost / The other was mine. The two-minute closer, Pour Your Nighteyes, is sweet and effective, Milia and guest vocalist Anna Burchs delectable harmony singing of imagery that is stark but nonetheless striking. A few surprises also enliven this otherwise straightforward album, as brass adds spice and melancholy, while musical saw adds a dose of quirk.

Frontier Ruckus spotlight is on Milia, whose contributions can be both saving graces and anchors weighing Deadmalls down. He doesnt hide his debt to Jeff Mangum, and at times his voice seems downright imitative, which undermines the honesty he tries to convey through his literal lyrics. Milia limits his vocal range and floods songs with words, leaving little room for a tune. Sometimes rhyme dictates his lyrics, which creates forced sentiments and images, such as on Silverfishes where he intones, A bright night kitchen moth and the washcloth that I use / For the refuse / That is littering all of your clues.

The record also suffers from production issues, as the highs are high and the lows are vague and diffused, spoiling many tracks. Any cut that features bass and drums is trapped in a Toad the Wet Sprocket staleness that the stripped-down songs escape. Those escapees keep Deadmalls & Nightfalls from seeming overdone, but in the end the album only reminds the listener of something else theyd rather be listening to.

by: VenusZine

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