Damnwells
(Poor Man Records)
Treading the terrain that separates traditional Americana from the headier realms of pure Pop, the Damnwells have consistently mined the best qualities of each genre. This third outing (not counting various earlier EPs) is no exception, although its title suggests some rumblings concerning their current state of affairs. Having disbanded their original incarnation and shedding his major label ties, leader Alex Dezen returned to college to obtain his MFA, subsequently releasing this disc via a free download in January. It's now available in CD form.
Conspiracy theorists could be convinced that One Last Century foretells one final album, although clearly, Dezen still has plenty of potent melodies brewing at his disposal. While most of the songs bear a contemplative quality - the beautifully beguiling "Midnight" and the quietly determined "Everything" chief among them - the earnest amble employed overall makes this as listener friendly as ever. The emphatic refrain of "Closer Than We Are" and a surging "55 Pictures" assert that impression as well. One damn fine band makes another damn fine album, hopefully signaling many more Damnwells-done efforts to come.
Standout tracks: "Soundtrack," "Closer Than We Are," "Bastard of Midnight" LEE ZIMMERMAN
