Time Travel Tuesday goes a short distance this week, back to 2005, to an album I discovered only a few months ago.
One of my happiest discoveries in 2008 was Joel Thibodeaux, AKA Death Vessel. I picked up both his 2008 album Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us and his 2005 album Stay Close at the same time. What better way to compare the past with the present than when both are equally fresh to the ear?
It was soon clear to me that Stay Close was by far my favorite of the two. All of Thibodeaux’s songs exhibit his unusual high-register vocals, lyrics that are worded more like code than a transfer of information, golden peals of electric guitar, and a lively sense of fun on some numbers. Stay Close feels somehow more upbeat and slightly more country-oriented, and Erik Carlson and Pete Donnelly add perfect backing vocals–something that feels missing from Nothing Is Precious. Thibodeaux also breaks out his fiddle more on Stay Close. Even the production quality seems to have more depth, and Thibodeaux is worth every enhancement.
I regret that I had not discovered Death Vessel the year that first album was released. It begins with “Mean Streak,” which is not your usual truck-driving song:
“The 18-wheeler holds an aching load
and ‘toot-toot’ won’t pull her over!”
We’ll be laying down white-cross shoulders”
It quickly became a huge favorite of mine.
“And bells and bugles blaring out:
‘There’s a little more room on the carcass rack!’”
“Later In Life Life” is one of a pair of maritime-themed songs that includes “Blowing Cave,” a blustery tale of surviving a storm at sea. I have no idea what “Break the Empress Crown” is about, but it just sounds great. “Mandan Dink” is a lively gambol to Picnic Rock, “Where we’ll leap if we want to”, leading straight into another irresistible romp, “Tidy Nervous Breakdown.” “Deep In the Horchata” unfolds in ominous beauty, with accents from Thibodeaux’s fiddle.
The album ends with another beauty, “White Mole,” with Thibodeaux weaving gorgeous lap steel slides around his amazing voice. This album isn’t the easiest thing to find, but I highly recommend going to the trouble.
Mean Streak from Stay Close (2005)
Tidy Nervous Breakdown performed live for Daytrotter Session
More songs by Death Vessel at Daytrotter
Video: “Blowing Cave” from 2006
MySpace | Website | Label: Sub Pop Records
Buy at Sub Pop, Amazon, or Armageddon Record Shop (LP only)
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