Spring Break
Damnwells' new album satisfies completely
Band's third album is available for free download online
Tim Pfarr and Max Brugger
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Diversions
The Damnwells
One Last Century
Grade: A
Recommended If You Like: Nada Surf, Guster, Matt Nathanson
Check Out: "Bastard of Midnight," "Dandelion," "55 Pictures," "Everything"
Skip: None
It's not clear whether The Damnwells' mastermind Alex Dezen is a genius or out of his mind. On Feb. 10, he released his band's third full-length album, "One Last Century," free for download on the band's website. "To me it makes perfect sense," Dezen said on the site. "I just want people to hear this music, and I don't want them to have to enter into some kind of a contractual agreement with a third party to do so." All an eager listener must do to download a copy of the record is sign up for the band's mailing list.
"One Last Century" may be the Brooklyn-based band's third full-length album, but it's the first with its new lineup, which officially consists of only Dezen (guitar and vocals) and Ted Hudson (bass), who were both among the band's four founding members. However, the band also credits a long list of secondary musicians, including co-founder David Chernis on guitar and Dezen's wife, Angela, on vocals. The only founding member missing from the current convoluted lineup is drummer Steven Terry.
Regardless, this team has successfully created one of the most satisfying albums in recent history, crafting mature rock songs that are as catchy as they are beautiful. Opening with "Soundtrack," an acoustic track with light strings, it transitions smoothly into "Bastard of Midnight," the catchiest song on the album, featuring a soaring chorus where Dezen sings "I just want to scream/Oh I miss you." The chord progression is enough to give listeners the chills, conveying so much emotion with such a simple pattern.
The conclusion of the second song leads the listener directly to "Dandelion," another of the album's highlights, which showcases airtight harmonies and the band's signature lap steel to provide a slightly dreamy sound. Other highlights on the remainder of the album include the upbeat "55 Pictures" and sobering "Everything."
One Last Century
Grade: A
Recommended If You Like: Nada Surf, Guster, Matt Nathanson
Check Out: "Bastard of Midnight," "Dandelion," "55 Pictures," "Everything"
Skip: None
It's not clear whether The Damnwells' mastermind Alex Dezen is a genius or out of his mind. On Feb. 10, he released his band's third full-length album, "One Last Century," free for download on the band's website. "To me it makes perfect sense," Dezen said on the site. "I just want people to hear this music, and I don't want them to have to enter into some kind of a contractual agreement with a third party to do so." All an eager listener must do to download a copy of the record is sign up for the band's mailing list.
"One Last Century" may be the Brooklyn-based band's third full-length album, but it's the first with its new lineup, which officially consists of only Dezen (guitar and vocals) and Ted Hudson (bass), who were both among the band's four founding members. However, the band also credits a long list of secondary musicians, including co-founder David Chernis on guitar and Dezen's wife, Angela, on vocals. The only founding member missing from the current convoluted lineup is drummer Steven Terry.
Regardless, this team has successfully created one of the most satisfying albums in recent history, crafting mature rock songs that are as catchy as they are beautiful. Opening with "Soundtrack," an acoustic track with light strings, it transitions smoothly into "Bastard of Midnight," the catchiest song on the album, featuring a soaring chorus where Dezen sings "I just want to scream/Oh I miss you." The chord progression is enough to give listeners the chills, conveying so much emotion with such a simple pattern.
The conclusion of the second song leads the listener directly to "Dandelion," another of the album's highlights, which showcases airtight harmonies and the band's signature lap steel to provide a slightly dreamy sound. Other highlights on the remainder of the album include the upbeat "55 Pictures" and sobering "Everything."
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