September 2008 Archive |
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Damien Jurado
Caught In The Trees
Review By Chris Drabick
In several interviews after the release of 2006’s And Now That I’m Your Shadow, Damien Jurado announced the name Damien Jurado was no longer just his name but would also serve as the name of his new band. You know, like it was “Damien Jurado” instead of Damien Jurado. You’d be forgiven for being a bit skeptical there was really any actual change involved; after all, wouldn’t some sort of past-breaking nomenclature alteration be in order? However, you could then erase all skepticism with one listen to Caught in the Trees, the first release that features “band” members Jenna Conrad and Eric Fisher as full-on collaborators. Trees is a gentle but definite departure for Jurado on a couple of levels, and it is also his most passionate and vital album in a decade.
The record is the most rocking in Jurado’s oeuvre. Granted, for a dude who has made a living out of making some pretty downcast music it may not be saying much, but “Gillian Was a Horse” and “Sheets” damn near swing. Conrad proves to be a deft addition, continuing her tasteful cello contributions from the last record and also adding nicely understated harmonies to “Last Rights” and “Everything Trying.” The “band” also knows when to stay out of their leader’s way, as Jurado takes his fairly limited voice to pretty brave heights on “Paper Kite.” Jurado by any other name (or, well, the same name) is a much more spirited Jurado.
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